A warehouse in Glasgow is in the midst of being transformed into a temporary mortuary to help deal with the rising death toll during the coronavirus pandemic.
The building, within Hillington Industrial Estate, will be able to accommodate up to 1700 bodies and is expected to be ready “in the coming weeks”.
Glasgow City Council also said the site will have the capability to operate 24/7 “should the need arise”.
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “Like all local authorities across the UK, the Greater Glasgow and Clyde local authority areas alongside our partners the NHS, have been looking at various options for dealing with increased deaths as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The partnership is monitoring on a daily basis the impact of Covid-19 against the planning models for the pandemic – including potential requirements for a temporary mortuary facility across the areas.
“As part of this resilience partnership planning, a site has been identified in Hillington.
“The site is a NHS leased building and we are working towards making this facility ready within the coming weeks for funeral directors across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde local authority areas to make use of – should they need to.
“However, the facility will also be available to other local authorities if there is a need.
“The temporary mortuary facility has the capacity to store up to 1700 caskets and – should the need arise – and has the capability to operate 24/7.”
Temporary mortuary provisions have also been put in place elsewhere in Scotland for use if needed during the pandemic.
A facility has been built at Edinburgh’s Mortonhall crematorium with another at Macmerry Industrial Estate in Tranent, East Lothian.
Perth and Kinross Council has developed temporary mortuary facilities at the Inveralmond Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Perth, while a military hangar at Kinloss Barracks, Moray, is on standby for use.
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