California has officially activated its “mass fatality” program as the state continues to grapple with record-breaking COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations.
On Tuesday, one day after the first COVID-19 vaccines began to be administered across the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in a news conference that California is taking further action to address the “sobering realities” of the coronavirus pandemic.
As part of the “mass fatality” program, which coordinates mutual aid between state and local agencies in crises resulting in mass fatalities, the state has ordered 5,000 body bags and 60 53-foot-long refrigerated storage units, which will be used as overflow morgues.