This is a sad story on so many levels. Aviation is largely shut down, so the normal activities at an airport aren’t taking place. The reason is our reaction to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. And because it spreads so rapidly, and can be deadly, and because that can overwhelm hospitals the mortality rate – especially among older populations that become infected in countries with the least spare capacity – many people are expected to die. And that’s even true with the most stringent mitigation measures.
A part of Birmingham airport in the U.K. is being converted to a makeshift morgue to initially hold 1500 bodies but with plans to covert to 12,000 as the need arises. Existing storage capacity is expected to be overwhelmed, and staff transferred to the airport facility to handle the volume.
The force said it would do everything possible to accommodate religious requirements and that it was “vital” to give people “the utmost dignity and respect” at all times.
Senior coroner for Birmingham, Louise Hunt, said: “We understand that it is a very difficult time for everyone and we will do all that we can to make sure bereaved families understand what is happening to their loved ones and to release them for funeral as soon as we can.”
Birmingham airport “is next to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, which had been mooted as a location for a temporary field hospital.”
(HT: Loyalty Lobby)
Gary,
when you shut everything down, to include funeral homes (Nobody there to claim and take the remains away in preparation for visitations, services and burials/cremations), don’t allow mass gatherings (visitations, Services and burials), and order people not to go anywhere “non-essential”, what do you expect would happen??
“The reason is our reaction to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.”
Which is ridiculous and over-the-top.
Coming to Texas.
Well there goes my plan to encourage US airlines to fly to BHX…. which is actually a great little airport with great connections to everywhere but the US.
Hadn’t thought about that for the NEC. The main exhibition halls are probably too big but the Atrium would be a great place to start. And, as the on-site Genting hotel just shut down over covid-19, there will be plenty of rooms for supporting medical staff.
@common man
Tell us what should happen because I can’t figure out what you are trying to say.
@Norita
When you tell all Of those businesses that would typically take Care of the bodies they are non-essential and shut them down, where do you think the remains are gonna go?? Nowhere. You have just eliminated the normal that these situations are typically handled. Average deaths due to ILI (influenza like illnesses) is actually lower by almost 2 standard deviation units from years past. How many people typically die in a normal
Day in Birmingham, England? Here is a good site for you to get actual information associated with deaths and ILI’s in Europe.
Here is a place where you can get historical information On deaths related to ILI’s in Europe and these stats are through the 3rd week
of March
https://www.euromomo.eu/
Looks like 8550 people
Die each year in Birmingham.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11762/2017_to_2018_deaths_in_birmingham.pdf
8550/365 = 23.5 per day. If nobody is taking the remains, what do you think happens? The bodies stack up. So where do you put them if the govt is not allowing the normal
Services to function?? And they been on lockdown for how long?? 4 days = About 100 bodies just in normal times.
Do this for 3-4 weeks?? How many bodies is that?? 500-650. Where do you put them??