PEORIA, Ill. –Rising COVID-19 deaths in Central Illinois are forcing the Peoria County coroner to consider activating a mobile morgue.
The numbers have the Peoria County morgue close to capacity, according Coroner Jamie Harwood.
In August, Peoria averaged less than two deaths a day. But, the number increased to more than eight per day by November.
This month, Peoria County is averaging almost 16 deaths a day.
Harwood told WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show”, it’s a definite possibility that he may need refrigerated trailers to handle the overflow.
“Instead of being reactionary to it, I want to be proactive. What I don’t want to see is what we’ve seen across the nation, like in New York where they’ve got bodies stacked up,” Harwood said.
The mobile morgue trailers, currently being stored in Bartonville, are available to the Coroner’s Office. Harwood said if needed, they would be moved to an undisclosed location.
There are only 60 spots for bodies in area hospitals, funeral homes, mortuaries and the morgue. Twelve of them are at Harwood’s office.
The coroner said won’t let bodies pile up.
“I want to make sure that paying homage to the deceased person. That we’re handling them with dignity,” Harwood said.
