GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS in Ireland are working on setting up multiple temporary mortuary facilities in order to handle an expected surge in deaths in the country due to the spread of Covid-19.
Liz Canavan, assistant secretary for social policy at the Department of the Taoiseach, announced the policy today during a briefing at Government Buildings in Dublin.
As reported by RTÉ, Ms Canavan told those present that they are preparing "to deal with the surge when it comes".
Adding that it was a very sensitive issue, Ms Canavan went on to say that the construction industry in Ireland had been given 48 hours to figure out a social distancing policy for the construction of the temporary mortuaries, including a designated person in each building whose role would be to ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines.
Similar measures have already been carried out in countries like Spain, where an ice-rink in Madrid is being used as a mortuary due to the rapid rise in deaths from coronavirus, currently standing at over 4,000.
The Republic of Ireland currently has 1,564 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 9 people have lost their lives to the virus.
Northern Ireland have today confirmed three more deaths relating to coronavirus, bringing their total to 10 deaths from 241 confirmed cases.
Officials had projected that the Republic of Ireland would likely have 15,000 confirmed cases by the end of March, and while this has not happened, likely due in part to the public following guidelines on social distancing and self isolation, health experts believe a surge in cases is still imminent.
