Look at the 1918 Spanish Flu.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/middleeast/iran-coronavirus-mass-graves-intl/index.html

People won't accept that here.

We may be relegated to the Spanish Flu years and mass graves/cremations willl be necessary

not comforting...esp when you think of the vector of dead bodies

Be responsible and have a cremation will.

without any of the usual dreck. Just dig the hole and drop, that's what I want.

cremation facility people should be dressed in head to toe protective gear, right?

Anyway, good questions, Deal

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-postmortem-specimens.html

Much is unknown about COVID-19. Current knowledge is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Most often, spread from a living person happens with close contact (i.e., within about 6 feet) via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. This route of transmission is not a concern when handling human remains or performing postmortem procedures. Postmortem activities should be conducted with a focus on avoiding aerosol generating procedures, and ensuring that if aerosol generation is likely (e.g., when using an oscillating saw) that appropriate engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) are used. These precautions and the use of Standard Precautions should ensure that appropriate work practices are used to prevent direct contact with infectious material, percutaneous injury, and hazards related to moving heavy remains and handling embalming chemicals.

Much appreciated!

Or how long it would live in their saliva. Putting their teeth in and setting the mouth can expose you to splashes of spit.

Protective gear is expensive and funeral home owners are known to ration when ordering gloves, etc.

I think of the EMT, ER staff, police, and the things they endure and sacrifice for their communities.

I hope this all burns out soon. Im not optimistic though.

Worst case scenario....seriously doubt it comes to this, but, in WWII during massive casualties, they piled up bodies, tossed gasoline on them and then lit it on fire.

Even mass graves during this were impractical.

Again, don't believe for a moment it will come to that. Just putting in some perspective. I also recollect during the initial stages of the Afghan War, Al-Qaeda/Taliban forces radioed that they needed x number of coffins from their HQ. They never got them and many of those caves became their tomb when their transmissions gave away their positions to be bombed.

Then of course, the Tsunami in 2004. Cremation is the custom. I wonder how many westerners were cremated by mistaken or....worse, government encouraging it. Bodies "lost out to sea" is a lot more palatable than a sea of visible coffins.

Sorry to be so morbid, but, given the family history.....I could get worse.

We take for granted of having a "proper burial".

the mortuary system involves funeral homes where large groups gather from all around to have an excuse to see each other under the guise of mourning the deceased. I doubt that there will be a lot of travel to accomplish this, especially to get together with distant family members who may have the virus themselves.

I can envision cremations where the ashes are provided to the next of kin for a memorial service to be held later.

It's the entire process. How many can a hospital hold? Where do they go next? How many can cemeteries handle? I hope it doesn't come to this, but I wonder if our current attitudes are sustainable if things go bad.

There are, of course, a lot of facilities that can be brought to bear.

We have a huge infrastructure for storing and transporting animal carcasses for human consumption.

One refrigerated tractor trailer or rail car could probably contain quite a bit, and wouldn’t be missed.

In my area, I do not believe we have enough embalming tables, refrigeration space, or crematoriums. (Only one crematory in my county)

Furthermore, many funeral homes do not adequately provide PPEs, prep room ventilation, or other resources morticians would need.

There is DMORT, but I honestly dont know if theyre funded anymore

Blood-born transmission has not been completely ruled out yet.

Also, morticians work very closely with the local ERs, nursing homes, EMTs, police, etc.

Funeral directors are generally good at contingency plans and organizing.

I'm way more worried about our hospital getting overwhelmed

works for a funeral parlor in TX, I believe. He says, they are almost out of embalming fluid. I personally believe people have been dying over the past couple weeks, that were being misdiagnosed, soI asked him, if it is because they are taking care of more bodies than usual, or if it was because, they are having a difficult time getting it from China..still waiting for him to answer.

Im retired, but I still keep in touch with my old colleagues.

There haven't been any more deaths than normal out here. However, theres a nudge toward graveside funerals instead of church services. Being outdoors would be better than everyone stuffed hip to hip in a pew.

The shortage of masks is concerning. Some embalmers use a mask to avoid fluid splashes (body and chemical)
The masks can also be placed on the deceased while moving and transporting the body.

Any shortage of PPEs would be horrid for morticians and coroners.

We have enormous capacity for storing meat.

We can handle the dead---the problem is handling the living

two of our three local hospitals closed this year. Many people here have to be life flighted to Pittsburgh or Columbus for lack of certain specialties.

acutely ill. Small, struggling hospitals are typically little more than a nursing home. There are exceptions, of course.

Mission Park funeral home offers ‘special services’ for families affected by the coronavirus
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/03/14/mission-park-funeral-home-offers-special-services-for-families-affected-by-the-coronavirus/

with a cudgel if the "corpse" regains consciousness or gets mouthy.

That's the US's mortuary plan.

Because Freedom! and Liberty! and 'Murica! and Nobama! and Socialism! and shit.

That's basically what the system is set up to handle.

Don't know how many people are in hospital every day in this country, but that number is essentially what can be handled.

Very few systems have much excess unused capacity. Most people don't get that.

I’d imagine we’re ok with those numbers. Hopefully we will stay at 49.