[UPDATED] Bodies piling up as Tobago mortuary runs out of space

THE surge in covid19 cases and deaths has overwhelmed Tobago’s mortuary at the Scarborough General Hospital. There is no more space for bodies.

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is now considering buying a mobile freezer as an alternative to store the bodies of people who die of covid19 until they could be released for burial or cremation.

In the last ten days, Tobago recorded 26 covid19 deaths – including a record five on Sunday. The morgue at the hospital has 18 drawers.

There have been 167 covid19 deaths in Tobago since the first was recorded in April 2020.

In an interview with Newsday on Monday, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine pleaded with the public to be safe.

He said, “Our morgue is full at the hospital, a lot of people are dying of covid19. We are looking to bring in a temporary freezer container to be able to assist in housing the dead. That is where we are at now.”

He said the island is grappling with the spike in covid19 deaths.

A Tobago Regional Health Authority source told Newsday all the drawers are full and bodies are being placed side by side.

The source said families of the dead are being asked to take their loved ones quickly.

“We have to take more bodies in.

"Families, we cannot wait for you to decide on what is next. We understand you are grieving, but the situation is dire. We have been forcing people’s hands because there is no time to grieve. Funeral homes can’t hold bodies for the mortuary. It’s becoming overwhelming.”

Minority leader Kelvon Morris told Newsday, “The PNM is very concerned at this time for what can only be described as a crisis situation. Of course, the PDP administration is now in charge of Tobago's governance and I would simply want to caution Tobagonians that as a people, it is time we stop the blame game and the finger-pointing. (Let us) ensure this administration gets down to work because, after all, they did indicate that they will fix all Tobago's perceived problems.

“I do sympathise with all families who are experiencing grief at this time. Sadly, the coronavirus is taking a toll on us…”

Attempts to reach Secretary for the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Dr Faith BYisrael were unsuccessful. In a message to the media in a WhatsApp group, BYisrael said, “I am trying to get additional information about the situation that may be happening at the TRHA. A comment will be made in due course.”

Days before Tobago’s hospital mortuary became overwhelmed, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram announced plans to partner with funeral homes to have a mega-storage facility in Freeport to store covid19 fatalities.

At a press conference on Saturday, Parasram said it had become necessary to acquire a bigger facility as bodies pile up in morgues.

According to the Ministry of Health, November ended with 462 covid19 deaths.

Up to Monday afternoon, covid19 deaths nationally jumped to 2,612, with December passing November’s death toll. The ministry recorded 454 deaths in the first three weeks of December.

In the first week, 145 died of complications linked to the virus. The ministry then recorded 151 deaths in the second week, and so far 158 people have died in the third week.

In September the Prime Minister told Tobago he was very disappointed by the lack of co-operation in getting vaccinated.

He added, “I am concerned from the standpoint that Tobago does not have the infrastructure of a large number of nurses, doctors, hospitals and beds to cope with a heavy outbreak.”

Up to Monday afternoon, 23,654 people in Tobago were partially vaccinated while 22,772 people were fully vaccinated.

This story was originally published with the title "THA considers temporary freezer as morgue overflowing" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is considering the purchase of a mobile freezer to store dead bodies as the mortuary at the Scarborough General Hospital is now full.

The island is grappling with a spike in covid19 deaths.

In the last 10 days Tobago recorded 26 deaths – including a record five on Sunday. The morgue at the hospital has 18 drawers.

There have been 167 covid19 deaths in Tobago.

In an interview with Newsday on Monday, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine pleaded with the public to be safe.

He said, “Our morgue is full at the hospital, a lot of people are dying of covid19. We are looking to bring in a temporary freezer container to be able to assist in housing the dead, that is where we are at now.”

A TRHA source told Newsday all the drawers are full and bodies are being placed side by side.

The source said families of the deceased are being asked to take their loved ones quickly.

“We have to take more bodies in.

"Families, we cannot wait for you to make the decision on what is next. We understand you are grieving but the situation is dire. We have been forcing people’s hand because there is no time to grieve. Funeral homes can’t hold bodies for the mortuary. It’s becoming overwhelming.”