A mobile Morgue coming to the area as covid ramps up

A mobile morgue to be purchased as Covid numbers hit record highs.  On Tuesday Six local healthcare entities sounded an alarm warning city and county leaders about the increasing coronavirus numbers in the area and the Newton County Commission is responding. They will discuss the cost and details of the new equipment at tonight’s commission meeting.

The ability to address covid as well as non-covid patients in the area at local hospitals as hospitalizations increase could hit a level beyond what’s currently available. And that fear also extends to the proper securing of those who pass away. The mobile unit would have the ability to house 24 additional bodies.

Yesterday afternoon the number of deaths attributed to covid-19 in Jasper County, Newton County and the City of Joplin reached 161. If that number stands out, its the same number of people that died in the devastating tornado of 2011.