The South Coast Air Quality Management District said in a press release on Sunday that permits for crematoriums generally contain limits on the number of remains that can be cremated each month, based on the potential impact they will have on quality. donate.
But, after requests from the county medical examiner and the health department, the agency issued an emergency order suspending authorization conditions that limit the number of cremations, as long as the crematoriums send an email notification and meet certain requirements. .
“The current death rate is more than double the pre-pandemic years, causing hospitals, funeral homes and crematoriums to exceed capacity without the ability to process the backlog,” South Coast AQMD said in a statement.
And his order says there is another wave of deaths coming, fueled by the meetings that took place during the New Year’s holiday.
The emergency request will be valid for 10 days and can be extended, the agency said.
Los Angeles County health officials reported on Sunday that more than 13,800 people have died from Covid-19 since the pandemic began and more than 7,400 remain hospitalized with the virus – 23% of whom are in the ICU.
At the end of last week, county health officials said in a press release that both health workers and the ICU’s capacity remain “strained”.
“The most important action to be taken by everyone to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and save lives is to stay at home and not mix with people other than your home,” the statement said.