Mortuary built in Leyton as authorities prepare for coronavirus deaths

The 10-acre site in Low Hall Depot, Leyton, is also used by Waltham Forest Council to store refuse trucks.

Workers have set up three large tents to house the bodies of coronavirus victims, which began arriving on Sunday, the Daily Mail reported.

Anita Evans, who lives opposite the site, said she was deeply distressed by the sites’ proximity to her home.

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She said: “It’s not a nice sight, to look out of your window knowing what is going to be in there. Knowing there are going to be dead bodies there, on an old refuse sight. It really isn’t nice.

“My mom is 83 years old and in a care home. There is a chance that, if she gets it and dies, she could put in there for all I know, and I just find that horrendous.

“I understand what needs to be done. But I don’t like to have to look outside my window and see it.”

The site one of several mortuaries being set up across London to house the bodies of Covid-19 victims, with more new deaths being reported every day.

Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, has confirmed 138 Covid-19 deaths since the outbreak of the virus.

On March 30 the council published a contract advert, looking for medical cleaners “to cover several permanent and temporary mortuary sites in North East London and south Essex.”

The position, due to commence April 21, is listed as a four-to-six-month contract.

As of Tuesday, April 7, there have been 393 confirmed infections in Waltham Forest.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for emergency response, said: “One of the council’s responsibilities is registering deaths and the Mortuary and Coroners Services. In order to support the Government’s national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been asked to provide a temporary mortuary facility, Thousand Acres, at our South Access Road site. This site is designed to be a temporary facility due to the increased level of deaths in London due to COVID-19.

“The death of a loved one can be a challenging and distressing time. We expect that many families will sadly experience the loss of a relative during this pandemic. However, due to the temporary nature of the facility it will not be possible to allow access to those related or close to the recently deceased.

“Please rest assured even in these desperate times the council will do our upmost to ensure each person placed in our care will receive a respectful and dignified final journey.”

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