Southwestern Ontario's largest morgue has the capacity for 28 bodies
As the pandemic's deadly second wave continues, southwestern Ontario's largest morgue has reached capacity in recent days, forcing the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) to bring in a refrigerated trailer to store bodies.
This weekend, the forensic pathology unit for the London network of hospitals reached its 28-bed capacity and officials brought in a mobile unit to store bodies until the backlog can be dealt with.
"New processes due to the pandemic have resulted in increases in the time needed for securing appropriate arrangements, and have necessitated additional interim body holding solutions," Glen Kearns, the hospital's chief information officer and integrated vice president of diagnostic services, said in a statement.
"The use of an alternative body holding solution by LHSC is a temporary measure that has been implemented specifically to allow for continued support of the needs of our patients and their families, the regional coroner's office and Ontario's death investigation system,"