Temporary airport mortuary with space for 1,500 coronavirus victims nears completion

A temporary mortuary being built at Birmingham Airport to help cope with an increase in deaths during the Covid-19 outbreak is nearly finished.

Part of the site - which will initially have space for 1,500 bodies - is already being used for storage, according to the West Midlands and Warwickshire strategic co-ordination group (SCG), made up of police, councils and other agencies, including the coroner.

Officials said the facility will be fully operational by next Friday, April 17, "at the latest".

At the site on Wednesday three new white marquee structures have been put up in the past week, next to a large hangar located at the airport's commercial freight and cargo handling area.

It is understood the site could expand to accommodate up to 12,000 bodies.

The airport is next to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) - the location of a new Nightingale Hospital, which is set to open to patients at the weekend.

In a statement released through the West Midlands Police website, the SCG said: "We would urge bereaved families not to delay in making funeral arrangements for their loved one, particularly because of the current restrictions regarding the number of attendees at funerals.

"Many burial sites and crematoriums are continuing services throughout the bank holiday weekend to prevent prolonged storage.

"We understand that these current restrictions mean that you may not be able to arrange the service you want, but we ask you to consider an alternative such as a memorial service or celebration of life at a later date.

"Other considerations include live-streaming the cremation or burial to enable family members and friends to participate."

The statement concluded that the authorities are working with all bereaved people planning funeral services to make sure all deaths are dealt with compassionately.

So far, 60 people in Sheffield have died from coronavirus and there are 883 confirmed cases.