The AP-HM gets refrigerated trucks for the deceased

A patient with Covid-19 in intensive care at La Timone in Marseille -

• In Paca, the health situation is "very worrying" and hospitals are facing a peak in mortality linked to Covid-19.

• First consequence in Marseille: the AP-HM has equipped itself with refrigerated trucks to anticipate tension in its death chambers.

• However, the authorities are not currently considering the requisition of a place to transform it into a giant morgue.

The words are modest, but they hide a chilling reality.

In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, faced with "possible tensions in the death chambers", the Public Assistance of Marseille Hospitals (AP-HM) has rented and positioned in front of its hospitals "mobile preservation capacities at controlled temperature", according to a press release sent by the AP-HM at

In other words, the AP-HM has decided to acquire refrigerated trucks to dispose of the bodies of the dead, which have become so numerous in Marseille hospitals since the Covid-19 epidemic that the morgues usually provided for this purpose could be soon insufficient.

"There is tension in the establishments which have the greatest activity, especially here in Marseille, but also a little in Avignon, because the devices that exist to collect the deceased are not designed for such a level," confirms the director of the regional health agency, Philippe de Mester.

It may have happened here at La Timone to take temporary reception measures in external structures.

"

"A very impressive peak in mortality"

"The deadlines for the departure of the deceased from the funeral chambers seemed to be able to lengthen and give rise to fear of difficulties in the organization of burials", justifies the AP-HM which wants to ensure "the accompaniment of the deceased with the greatest respect and concern to preserve dignity, as well as their families and loved ones.

"

These “traffic jams and congestion in the devices for the deceased” in the words of Philippe de Mester constitute the first consequence on the health system of the “very impressive mortality peak” of Covid patients which the Paca region is facing.

"It is considered that currently around thirty people die every day in the region", indicates Philippe de Mester, who considers the health situation "very worrying" in the region.

No giant morgue

In Marseille, "the mission of the CHU is to take charge of the most serious forms of the disease," writes the AP-HM.

This results in a significant increase in the number of deaths.

Since April 1, 2020, 341 people have died of Covid-19 in the departments of Marseille University Hospitals, including 149 since August.

This Sunday, five coronavirus patients died at the AP-HM.

To the point of considering finding a place to turn it into a huge temporary morgue?

In its Saturday edition,

mentioned in particular the requisition of the ice rink of Capelette, in the 10th arrondissement of Marseille.

"This is not the case", indicates the prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône at

.

"There is absolutely no plan to open a center for the concentration of deceased persons in the region," Philippe de Mester says.

This sort of thing is not on the agenda at all.

And we will do everything to have recourse to this kind of situation.

"

The ARS is counting on funeral directors to find solutions to “go faster” according to Philippe de Mester.

Because, even if, according to the AP-HM, at the present time, “there is no longer any significant tension” in the two death chambers of Marseille hospitals, the figures continue to climb.

This Monday, the AP-HM welcomed 338 patients with Covid-19.

A figure never reached since the daily count started in August.

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