Greenwood Funeral Directors in Chelmsford. Photo: Google Maps
A new temporary mortuary is to open as deaths from Covid-19 continue to rise.
Essex County Council is spending £700,000 to run a temporary mortuary for the storage of an additional 330 bodies at Greenwood Funeral Directors in Chelmsford.
The decision comes amidst a rapidly increasing death rate. Prior to Christmas, there was 50 per cent capacity in the system but this has reduced to 34 per cent this week and capacity is expected to continue to reduce over the coming weeks.
There are parts of Essex which are approaching capacity already.
Permanent mortuary capacity at hospitals in Essex amounts to 737 – this capacity was enhanced to 1,211 after extra space was created.