Local authorities in North Yorkshire are planning to build a temporary mortuary for a “reasonable worst case scenario.”

The North Yorkshire Resilience Forum will not disclose the location of the mortuary but said it would be away from residential properties.

Other towns and cities have started to build mortuaries in parks, former RAF bases and near hospitals to cope with an increase in coronavirus-related deaths.

So far, six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died at Harrogate District Hospital with 163 confirmed cases in North Yorkshire.

Richard Flinton, chair of the North Yorkshire Resilience Forum, told the Stray Ferret that they were preparing for all scenarios

“Alongside the provision of PPE, the implementation of a new health and social care model to free up critical care beds in hospitals, supporting businesses to access government funds, providing child care for key workers and coordinating the huge community response effort – additional mortuary facilities have been sourced in case they are needed.

“The venue is within the county of North Yorkshire and away from residential properties. While we very much hope these will not be required it’s important to plan for a reasonable worst case scenario.

“As a multiagency team we applaud the efforts to date of the people of our beautiful county in sticking strictly to the Government guidance relating to the lock down and we appeal to them to continue to do that for as long as it takes. We can all play our part in protecting the NHS and helping to save lives.”

It comes as the NHS confirms that Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital will have up to 500 beds available to care for coronavirus patients.