FAQs: Postmortem

This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.

What do I do if my hospital is running out of space in the morgue?

You can try to lease appropriate storage space, although it is in short supply in many parts of the state. You can also call your county coroner or medical examiner. The county coroner or medical examiner has the ability to request help from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services if necessary. (4/9)

Can funeral homes/mortuaries refuse to accept the bodies of those who died of COVID-19?

The existing state and federal guidance does not support funeral homes, mortuaries, or death care workers refusing to accept the bodies of those who died of COVID-19. Rather, the existing state and federal guidance provides that death care workers need only follow routine infection prevention and control precautions. Read more  (4/9)