NJ opens investigation into makeshift morgue at nursing home with bodies piled up
Gov. Phil Murphy said that he was “outraged" to learn of dead bodies that were allowed to pile up in a makeshift morgue at New Jersey nursing home facility.
Addressing the incident during a press briefing on Thursday, he said that the state is opening an investigation into Andover Rehabilitation in Sussex County after police found 17 bodies in the facility's holding area. The facility had earlier requested 25 body bags, which led police to investigate further.
“New Jerseyans living in our long-term care facilities deserve to be cared for with respect, compassion, and dignity,” said the governor.
Murphy explained that he has asked the Attorney General of New Jersey to investigate the situation, and later conduct a review of all the care facilities in the state that have been overwhelmed by the coronavirus outbreak.
“Our full focus must remain on mitigating the spread of the virus and minimizing the impact to all who remain, in this case at the Andover facility, as well as all of our other long-term care facilities,” he said.