The Government's general pandemic plan prepares for 38,000 deaths over an eight-week period with 10,000 of those deaths happening within seven days during an outbreak's peak. It details the Government's response to a range of issues from the economy, health, defence, work streams and in the event the disease cannot be contained adequately - mass deaths. But the reality of mass deaths is being felt in in Italy where the pandemic has claimed more than 2500, with 475 dying over a single day. The pandemic plan outlines the way in which bodies should be handled during a pandemic from the reporting stage through to burial. Deaths that occur in New Zealand must be notified to Births, Deaths and Marriages for registration before the body leaves.

Source: Stuff March 18, 2020 21:04 UTC