Local authorities could be forced to bury victims of the coronavirus pandemic in mass graves, academics say. The UK’s death services are not equipped to deal with the surge in fatalities which could result from the crisis, according to the group from the University of Huddersfield.
They predict that if death rates among those infected with Covid-19 reach even 1% - the lower end of expectations - funeral and bereavement services could become overwhelmed.
This may cause bottlenecks in issuing death certificates, providing funeral services and even mortuary space. Limited cemetery space could also become a major problem, leading to the possibility of mass graves.