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As Coronavirus Deaths Mount, Mobile Morgues Pop Up in N.Y.: Live Updates As Coronavirus Deaths Mount, Mobile Morgues Pop Up in N.Y.: Live Updates
(32 minutes later)
New York City has already set up 45 new mobile morgues. Local crematories are now allowed to work around the clock. At one Brooklyn hospital, the in-house morgue was filled to capacity on Tuesday. The next day, the nursing staff ran out of body bags.New York City has already set up 45 new mobile morgues. Local crematories are now allowed to work around the clock. At one Brooklyn hospital, the in-house morgue was filled to capacity on Tuesday. The next day, the nursing staff ran out of body bags.
As the coronavirus epidemic enters its second month, the casualties in New York are starting to severely tax the city’s ability to accommodate its dead. With more than 1,000 deaths so far and thousands more projected, city officials are working hard to stave off an emergency.As the coronavirus epidemic enters its second month, the casualties in New York are starting to severely tax the city’s ability to accommodate its dead. With more than 1,000 deaths so far and thousands more projected, city officials are working hard to stave off an emergency.
In the past few days, the city’s medical examiner’s office has taken over the collection of bodies, dispatching the fleet of new refrigerated trailers to hospitals in all five boroughs, some of whose morgues have already filled up. Funeral homes are becoming backed up. Cemeteries and crematories, running on smaller staffs, are scrambling to keep up with demand.In the past few days, the city’s medical examiner’s office has taken over the collection of bodies, dispatching the fleet of new refrigerated trailers to hospitals in all five boroughs, some of whose morgues have already filled up. Funeral homes are becoming backed up. Cemeteries and crematories, running on smaller staffs, are scrambling to keep up with demand.
“It’s taking longer for the bodies to be released and for the bodies to be transferred,” said Patrick J. Kearns, a fourth-generation funeral director who operates three funeral homes in Queens and one on Long Island. “When you overwhelm the health system, you also overwhelm the death system.”“It’s taking longer for the bodies to be released and for the bodies to be transferred,” said Patrick J. Kearns, a fourth-generation funeral director who operates three funeral homes in Queens and one on Long Island. “When you overwhelm the health system, you also overwhelm the death system.”
So far, officials say, the longstanding system for picking up and disposing of bodies in New York has not completely broken down; the city is not at an immediate risk for a secondary health crisis with corpses stacked in churches or lying in the streets, as has been the case in some Italian cities.So far, officials say, the longstanding system for picking up and disposing of bodies in New York has not completely broken down; the city is not at an immediate risk for a secondary health crisis with corpses stacked in churches or lying in the streets, as has been the case in some Italian cities.
But at every step of the process — from hospitals to funeral homes to city-run morgues — people are feeling the strain of the sharp increase in deaths and acknowledge that it is only a prelude to the coming flood.But at every step of the process — from hospitals to funeral homes to city-run morgues — people are feeling the strain of the sharp increase in deaths and acknowledge that it is only a prelude to the coming flood.
All New York City playgrounds were ordered shut on Wednesday to slow the spread of the coronavirus — a move that led to scenes of crying children shaking locked gates, even as other parkgoers called the measure long overdue.
The announcement by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo followed calls from public-health experts and many City Council members to shut all playgrounds. But it added a new challenge for families weathering a lockdown that has closed schools.
Mr. Cuomo said he had to act because despite multiple public warnings, too many people continued to crowd playgrounds and jostle on basketball courts instead of staying six feet apart, as experts recommend to cut down on virus transmission.
In Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, where a boardwalk stretches for blocks along a windswept beach, Vitali Mourzakhanov arrived at a playground with his 2-year-old daughter on a bicycle with training wheels.
He was relieved to see it closed.
“I think it’s long overdue, people don’t sanitize the swings,” said Mr. Mourzakhanov, 43, a steamfitter.
The city’s decision, he said, made his job as a parent easier.
“Now, it’s locked, it’s closed,” he said. “So no crying.”
For many members of Alcoholics Anonymous, meetings are about bodies in space — hugs, pats on backs and a tissue every now and then.
But a quarantine is a trying time. And as “people who can drink normally” — A.A. lingo for nonalcoholics — are stocking up on liquor (in New York, liquor stores are considered “essential businesses”), A.A. members are hellbent on keeping meetings going.
Though at least one New York City meeting stayed open a few days after the lockdown, its chairs spaced six feet apart, meetings are now convening on Zoom. And internet A.A., at first glance, is uncanny. Members make disclosures to a crowd of internet strangers who cannot, really, look one another in the eye.
“I have several hours clean,” one person said last week. “I need help.”
Many people who speak in meetings say they’re overwhelmed with relief to find the online gatherings in a difficult moment.
“Part of me wants to shut down, to make the world as small as my bed,” someone said the other day. “But in sobriety I find I can be of service to my mother — actually call, ask her about what interests her, make sure she’s OK.”
For people in the New York area who have respirator-type N95 masks or other medical-grade masks at home, there are several ways to get them to people who really need them right now: local medical workers.For people in the New York area who have respirator-type N95 masks or other medical-grade masks at home, there are several ways to get them to people who really need them right now: local medical workers.
Contact state agencies. In New York, the state Health Department has an online form that breaks down donated goods by category, including medical supplies. New Jersey residents are encouraged to use the state’s official donation portal. Connecticut residents with potential donations can also complete an online form.Contact state agencies. In New York, the state Health Department has an online form that breaks down donated goods by category, including medical supplies. New Jersey residents are encouraged to use the state’s official donation portal. Connecticut residents with potential donations can also complete an online form.
Try nonprofit groups. The Afya Foundation in Yonkers, N.Y., for example, is seeking donated masks of all kinds.Try nonprofit groups. The Afya Foundation in Yonkers, N.Y., for example, is seeking donated masks of all kinds.
Donate directly. If you know a medical worker personally, you can make direct contact to drop off medical masks. Priority should be given to emergency room doctors and other medical professionals who are likely to make contact with people who have been infected.Donate directly. If you know a medical worker personally, you can make direct contact to drop off medical masks. Priority should be given to emergency room doctors and other medical professionals who are likely to make contact with people who have been infected.
Use a website. At least two websites, NYC Mask Crusaders and Mask Match, are geared toward connecting New York residents with medical professionals who need crucial supplies.Use a website. At least two websites, NYC Mask Crusaders and Mask Match, are geared toward connecting New York residents with medical professionals who need crucial supplies.
Here’s a look at major developments from Wednesday: Here’s what happened yesterday:
Tristate Death Toll Passes 2,300: Another 491 people died of the virus in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, bringing the total for the region to 2,381.Tristate Death Toll Passes 2,300: Another 491 people died of the virus in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, bringing the total for the region to 2,381.
City Playgrounds Close: Frustrated by the lack of social distancing reported in many city playgrounds, Governor Cuomo ordered them closed.
De Blasio Requests Supplies: Mayor de Blasio stressed that for the coming weeks, New York City would need 400 additional ventilators and 3.3 million N95 masks.De Blasio Requests Supplies: Mayor de Blasio stressed that for the coming weeks, New York City would need 400 additional ventilators and 3.3 million N95 masks.
Equipment Shortage for Doctors: Lacking proper equipment to treat patients, doctors may soon need to make hard choices about which patients to prioritize.Equipment Shortage for Doctors: Lacking proper equipment to treat patients, doctors may soon need to make hard choices about which patients to prioritize.
Donation from Apple: Wednesday night, Governor Cuomo said that Apple had donated 1.9 million masks to the state.Donation from Apple: Wednesday night, Governor Cuomo said that Apple had donated 1.9 million masks to the state.
As The New York Times follows the spread of the coronavirus across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we need your help. We want to talk to doctors, nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, emergency services workers, nursing home managers — anyone who can share what they are seeing in the region’s hospitals and other health care centers. Even if you haven’t seen anything yet, we want to connect now so we can stay in touch in the future.As The New York Times follows the spread of the coronavirus across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we need your help. We want to talk to doctors, nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, emergency services workers, nursing home managers — anyone who can share what they are seeing in the region’s hospitals and other health care centers. Even if you haven’t seen anything yet, we want to connect now so we can stay in touch in the future.
A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent.A reporter or editor may contact you. Your information will not be published without your consent.
Reporting was contributed by Jonah Engel Bromwich, Alan Feuer, Michael Gold, Corey Kilgannon, Andy Newman, Andrea Salcedo and Matt Stevens. Reporting was contributed by Anne Barnard, Jonah Engel Bromwich, Alan Feuer, Michael Gold, Virginia Heffernan, Corey Kilgannon, Andy Newman, Andrea Salcedo, Nate Schweber and Matt Stevens.