Atrium Health says ‘mobile morgues’ at hospital are precautionary

CONCORD — Atrium Health confirmed it has “mobile morgues” set up outside Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord. Hospital officials said they’re preparing for the possibility of a large number of deaths.

Citizens were alarmed Thursday at the sight of the two large, white containers.

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“That’s just not good for people’s morale in a time like this,” resident Joshua Seeler said.

Atrium Health is stressing that this is precautionary.

“That’s not something anyone wants to think about or see right now,” resident Raquel Cook said.

The units are in front of the emergency room on Lake Concord Road. An Atrium Health spokesperson said it was accurate to call them “mobile morgues.”

[Atrium, Novant call for field hospitals ahead of predicted surge of COVID-19 patients]

Atrium Health officials also urged the public to do its part by following social distancing and stay-at-home orders. They said how quickly COVID-19 spreads is directly dependent on the community.

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Atrium Health reiterated the containers are precautionary.

In a statement from Atrium Health, it said it, "continues to implement plans for the increased impact COVID-19 will have on our community. As part of our ongoing pandemic planning, we are coordinating and working with every hospital in our system to prepare for the anticipated influx of COVID-19 patients in the weeks ahead.

"This includes decreasing non-essential appointments and procedures early on, our emphasis on virtual health visits and identifying extra available space for patients.

"We are also preparing for the possibility there may be a higher number of patients who succumb to COVID-19.

"The extent of how fast COVID-19 will spread, the impact it has, and our ability to serve the community during this state of emergency is directly dependent on how well our community observes the physical distancing and stay-at-home orders in place today.

“We continue to urge the community to do their part in flattening the curve. These measures underscore how vitally important it is for the community to observe stay-at-home and physical distancing orders in place.”

Atrium Health calls for field hospital ahead of predicted surge of COVID-19 patients Atrium Health calls for field hospital ahead of predicted surge of COVID-19 patients

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