Yavapai County is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 deaths, and the local morgue is reaching capacity.
Health Director Leslie Horton received approval from the county Board of Supervisors on Wednesday to purchase an additional 20 bay morgue storage facility with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Horton says this additional storage will relieve some of the pressure on both hospitals and funeral homes.
“It is important that we’re prepared and able to handle an increase in deaths and take pressure off the funeral homes that have to expedite things, take pressure off the hospital as they reach capacity, so that we can help ease this burden on the system that is doing it’s best to keep up with the increase in demands due to the increase in deaths," said Horton.
Horton says she hopes people do their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated, wearing masks indoors, and staying home when sick.
