Chilling photos reveal new morgue built to hold 5,000 coronavirus victims
These images show a temporary morgue at a disused military base which could hold more than 5,000 bodies when complete.
Initially, two hangars at RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire will be converted to hold 600 bodies each.
Work is ready to start on two further hangars and five more are on standby if the death toll increases – bringing the total capacity to 5,400.
Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed a temporary mortuary is being set up at the former RAF base to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
A worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘Two hangars have been done already and two more are on the way, with 600 bodies per hangar.
‘It is for storage for bodies infected with coronavirus and they’ll be in body bags and laid on the shelves.’
They said the work on the temporary morgue started on March 27 and it will become opeartional on Monday.
The worker said undertakers and NHS staff are refusing to touch the bodies so they have got the military in, who’ll be taking the corpses in rental vans.
They added: ‘It is strange working there, everyone is keeping their distance and wearing masks.
‘It’s a little bit odd, you can either laugh or cry, but you’ve just got to do your work.’
Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement: ‘In common with all other areas of the country there are longstanding contingency plans to provide extra mortuary space during emergency situations.
‘Partners from organisations including the NHS, registration services, coroner’s office and local authorities have been meeting regularly to consider requirements that may be placed upon Oxfordshire during the Coronavirus outbreak.’
RAF Upper Heyford was home to Bomber Command during WW2 but was closed in 1993.
Work is ready to start on two further hangars and five more are on standby if the death toll increases – bringing the total capacity to 5,400.
Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed a temporary mortuary is being set up at the former RAF base to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
A worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘Two hangars have been done already and two more are on the way, with 600 bodies per hangar.
‘It is for storage for bodies infected with coronavirus and they’ll be in body bags and laid on the shelves.’
They said the work on the temporary morgue started on March 27 and it will become opeartional on Monday.
The worker said undertakers and NHS staff are refusing to touch the bodies so they have got the military in, who’ll be taking the corpses in rental vans.
They added: ‘It is strange working there, everyone is keeping their distance and wearing masks.
‘It’s a little bit odd, you can either laugh or cry, but you’ve just got to do your work.’
Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement: ‘In common with all other areas of the country there are longstanding contingency plans to provide extra mortuary space during emergency situations.
‘Partners from organisations including the NHS, registration services, coroner’s office and local authorities have been meeting regularly to consider requirements that may be placed upon Oxfordshire during the Coronavirus outbreak.’
RAF Upper Heyford was home to Bomber Command during WW2 but was closed in 1993.