But funeral directors said they had been told that any coronavirus victims not claimed within two weeks will be buried on Hart Island, at least temporarily. In normal times, an average of 150 people die every day in New York City. “It’s hard for New Yorkers to think about anybody being buried on Hart Island,” Levine said, “but it will be done in a dignified, orderly professional manner.”The Hart Island plan will create an added layer of difficulty for overwhelmed funeral directors. Historically, city officials have long been reluctant to provide public access to Hart Island, which is said to be the largest public cemetery in the country. The nonprofit’s founder, Melinda Hunt, said Hart Island can accommodate several more decades of burials at the normal rate.

Source: bd News24 April 10, 2020 21:33 UTC