Fort Worth hospital sets up temporary morgue in case of possible coronavirus influx
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth set up a temporary morgue outside its facility to prepare for a possible influx of bodies due to coronavirus.
A hospital spokeswoman said the external morgue is not being used yet, but is a precautionary measure since “local mortuary resources may remain at capacity longer than anticipated” due to shelter-in-place orders.
The hospital does not have a need for the morgue yet, the spokeswoman emphasized.
“This is an unprecedented step for us, but one we must take to be prepared in these uncertain times,” the hospital’s statement said.
Baylor Scott & White was monitoring the need for other resources, such as ventilators and hospital beds. The hospital was considering using vacant operating rooms and other empty areas to hold patients, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The hospital is not disclosing the number of patients who have tested positive or are receiving treatment for COVID-19.
John Peter Smith Hospital and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth did not immediately respond to questions about morgue capacity.
As of Monday, JPS was treating 10 patients for COVID-19, 36 patients were under investigation for having the virus and nine employees had tested positive.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 2:47 PM.
