Lung Center morgue freezer exceeds capacity as COVID-19 deaths mount

The morgue freezer at the Lung Center of the Philippines exceeded its capacity last Good Friday, April 10, due to the number of patients who have died from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to a 24 Oras report by Victoria Tulad on Sunday, only four bodies can fit inside the freezer, but the hospital was forced to fill it with 12 bodies due to the rising number of deaths.

Most of the bodies belonged to COVID-19 patients.

“It was an isolated incident. We try to give them as much dignity as possible. It’s not like tinatambak mo ‘yan,” media liaison officer Dr. Nobet Francisco said.

Under COVID-19 protocols, patients must be cremated within 12 hours of their death.

However, the Lung Center said patients are often not picked up on time by their relatives.

“Lockdown tayo e, hindi basta-bastang nakakarating sa ospital ‘yung relatives. Pangalawa, maaaring naka-quarantine rin yung relatives themselves,” Francisco explained.

The hospital immediately relayed its concern to the Quezon City (QC) local government.

"Those that are not of Quezon City residence, coordination was made with their respective home LGUs. And those that are of Quezon City residence, ang city na 'yung nanguna para i-identify at contact-in 'yung kanilang mga families all whom thereafter went to retrieve the bodies of their relatives,” QC Assistant City Administrator Alberto Kimpo said.

The city government had also released guidelines to ensure that bodies would not pile up in hospitals.

“Kung hindi ma-contact ‘yung family, mga opisyal ng ospital or opisyal ng LGU na ang pipirma no’ng mga dokumento,” Kimpo said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government, for its part, had also released directives for local governments to partner with crematoriums.

The local government will shoulder the cost of cremation for poor patients as well as the cost of personal protective gear for crematorium staff.

Relatives of COVID-19 patients who prefer to bury their kin must do so using a sealed cadaver bag and a sealed casket. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News