FITCHBURG — Over two months ago, the state’s chief medical examiner established a staging area at Fitchburg State University’s Landry Arena to serve as a temporary morgue, a contingency if the death toll related to COVID-19 were to accelerate.
Now, the state mortuary trucks previously stationed at the arena have pulled out and the privacy fencing has been taken down.
Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the examiner’s office, said Tuesday the site was shut down on June 3. The last body at the site was removed on May 29, he added.
“We’re grateful to all our partners, including hospitals, funeral homes, the City of Fitchburg, and Fitchburg State University for the seamless collaboration that allowed mortuary services to remain safe, timely, and respectful,” he said.
Wark said the examiner’s office remained in regular contact with mortuary service providers across the state since the outbreak of COVID-19. As a result, the facility held just seven bodies in total while the site was operational.
Mortuary trucks, where bodies are temporarily stored, were first spotted at the Fitchburg arena on April 1.
The staging area at Fitchburg State was used primarily as a bridge between health care facilities and funeral homes and crematories.
Wark said previously that the facility ensured the continued operation of those services in the event of an increase in deaths or a decrease in the workforce that would otherwise contribute to unsanitary conditions.
Mayor Stephen DiNatale said he was grateful the facility wasn’t needed often and stressed the importance of being prepared for anything during a crisis.
“It all went well,” DiNatale said. “It was managed properly and we were happy to be of service to the Commonwealth.”
DiNatale said MEMA had previously identified the civic center as an ideal area for staging emergency operations.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends setting up temporary morgues to maintain public health and sanitary conditions when necessary.
With the staging site gone and the state beginning to reopen, the mayor said it’s important for residents to continue to follow health and safety guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health.
“It’s important to be masked in public and keep social distancing,” he said.
As of Tuesday, the city had had 776 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 628 individuals who have recovered.
There have been 65 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the city, and it is important to note that the number includes individuals who have died and were positive for the virus.
Official death record numbers may vary as the virus may not be the official cause of death, according to DiNatale.