TROUP COUNTY, Ga. — Troup County officials said that due to a significant increase in COVID-19 deaths, they will install a new, permanent morgue facility at Wellstar West Georgia Hospital.
The 10x10 cooler will hold up to 15 bodies and will be installed in about 12 weeks.
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Officials said there has been a significant decrease in the hours of operation at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Medical Examiner’s Office, which is contributing to the shortage.
County officials said that they have been borrowing morgue space from privately-owned funeral homes and neighboring county-owned morgue facilities.
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Troup County Coroner Erin Hackley said that she identified the need for more morgue space when she ran for the position in 2020.
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“At that time, it was not clear how urgent that need would become just a short time later: not only during this pandemic, but also in the planning of future mass casualty and disaster events,” Hackey said.
At least 230 people in Troup County have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.