Shipping containers used as makeshift morgues at Sungai Buloh Hospital as Malaysian death toll rises

SUNGAI BULOH (18 May 2021) – Due to the increasing rate of deaths in the state of Selangor directly related to Covid-19 and its variant strains, Sungai Buloh Hospital has resorted to using shipping containers as makeshift morgues to house the dead due to a lack of space and amenities.

As the Covid-19 death toll hits a record high of 80 over the weekend, Sungai Buloh Hospital has been forced to convert shipping containers into makeshift morgues with the first one set up to house 16 bodies.

According to the Ministry of Health, the elderly and chronically ill make up at least 80% of Covid-19 related deaths in the country.

“Many of them are infected by close family members. If you live with those from the high-risk community, protect yourself first, so you can protect your loved ones,” a Ministry representative said.

Sungai Buloh Hospital is the main Covid-19 crisis centre in Selangor and is currently treating up to 520 coronavirus patients in critical conditions.

Aside from the mortuaries, the bodies of those that died of the virus are housed in Covid-19 centralised body facilities until their cremation or burial.

To date, Malaysia has recorded an estimated 470,110 Covid-19 cases and 1,902 deaths since the outbreak occurred

END