New York on the brink: US coronavirus epicentre to bury dead in parks as morgues overflow
NEW YORK authorities have been forced to consider burying the dead in the city's parks as morgues begin to overfill amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus: New York piloting closing streets says governor
The chairman of the city council health committee said morgues were now dealing with levels of death synonymous with 9/11. It comes as the city struggles with its status as the US epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, with nearly 4,200 dead.
In a Twitter thread, chairman Mark Levine wrote: “Soon we'll start ‘temporary interment’.
“This likely will be done by using a NYC park for burials (yes you read that right).
“Trenches will be dug for 10 caskets in a line.
It will be done in a dignified, orderly--and temporary--manner.
“But it will be tough for NYers to take.”
Hospital morgues typically hold around 15 bodies and are currently full.
The situation has forced 80 refrigerated lorries being sent to hospitals, but they too are close to full capacity.
Funeral homes are also said to be overwhelmed, in addition to the city’s cemeteries unable to process burials fast enough.
JUST IN: Coronavirus death surge: Americans told to brace for 'Pearl Harbor'
Mr Levine said: "It's not just deaths in hospitals which are up.
“On an average day before this crisis there were 20-25 deaths at home in NYC.
"Now in the midst of this pandemic the number is 200-215.
"The goal is to avoid scenes like those in Italy, where the military was forced to collect bodies from churches and even off the streets."
DON'T MISS
Terrifying spike in coronavirus deaths puts US on road to beat China [LATEST]
Father refuses to let son home after holiday over COVID 19 fears [UPDATE]
Shocking pictures show workers using forklift to stack bodies [ANALYSIS]
Although it was only currently a contingency plan, Mr Levine it might happen “soon”.
Any location of a park has not yet been disclosed.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "I don't want to go into detail because I don't think it's a great thing to be talking about publicly."
It comes as New York is expected to enter the worst week of the crisis so far.
The virus has transcended humans in the city having spread on Monday to a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo.
The tiger, named Nadia, is believed to be the first known case of an animal infected with Covid-19 in the US.
Another six cats are thought to have been infected by an asymptomatic zoo keeper.
The animals started showing virus-like symptoms in late March after exposure to an unnamed employee.
Paul Calle, the chief veterinarian at the zoo, said: "This is the first time that any of us know of anywhere in the world that a person infected the animal and the animal got sick.”
There have been separate instances of animals and pets contracting the virus around the world.
Experts have continued to stress that there is no evidence they can become sick or spread the virus.