Temporary coronavirus mortuary opens at Birmingham Airport
A specially-built mortuary to deal with coronavirus deaths has opened in the West Midlands.
The temporary site is operating at Birmingham Airport to receive bodies from across the region.
Bodies of people who have died from Covid-19 will be stored there until funeral arrangements can be made.
There is no viewing facility at the site, in the south of the airport, which is one of several temporary mortuaries being set up in the UK and is set to accommodate at least 1,500 bodies.
Senior Birmingham coroner Louise Hunt said: "Our priority, as always, is dignity and respect for the deceased, as well as the safety of our key workers.
"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."
The pandemic has also seen a special team of frontline workers form to deal with deaths as smoothly as possible.
The group, called Pandemic Multi-Agency Response Team, is made up of paramedics, police and fire officers.
This will aid in the process which entails recording deaths, notifying next of kin and transferring bodies.
