Coronavirus: Westminster council builds tent to double capacity for bodies amid pandemic

‘We hopefully won’t ever need them. But you saw the numbers of what could happen, so we need to be prepared,’ council worker says

A tent has been built at Westminster Mortuary to double its capacity amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Builders in hard hats could be seen erecting the large white tent outside the mortuary on Wednesday.

A Westminster council worker told the news agency SWNS the refrigerated racked tent would double the council’s capacity. ”The mortuary currently holds 106 bodies. The tent will hold about another 100,” he said.

Councils were building similar tents to expand capacity as much as possible, he said, adding: ”The tent will be up today and will be ready by the weekend.

“We hopefully won’t ever need them. But you saw the numbers of what could happen, so we need to be prepared.”

A spokesperson for Westminster City Council said: “We have plans in place to increase the capacity of our mortuary at Horseferry Road as part of a London wide response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

“This is a precautionary step and similar arrangements are made during any London wide response to incidents. We hope and trust that this will not be needed but it is sensible to prepare at this stage.”

The death toll from coronavirus has reached 104 people after NHS England said a further 34 had died in England after testing positive.

A statement from NHS England said: “A further 32 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 99.

“Patients were aged between 59 and 94 years old and had underlying health conditions.

“Their families have been informed.”

Some 2,626 people have tested positive for the virus as of 9am on Wednesday, up from 1,950 at the same time on Monday, the Department of Health said.