Local RAF station could be used as a mortuary site during Covid-19 pandemic

By and large, the area has fared much better than other parts of the country in the opening days of what could be a lengthy process of closures and restrictions on daily life.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the situation will ‘get worse, before it gets better.’

And today, the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum confirmed the news about the World War Two air base.

The forum is the network of agencies working together to co-ordinate the local response to the coronavirus pandemic and its implications for residents, life and business within the county.

Jason Harwin, Chairman of the Strategic Command of the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, said: “As part of our emergency plans for pandemic, we carry out a lot of precautionary work so we can prepare for the worst case scenario.

“We are not at that point yet in Lincolnshire, however we cannot be complacent.

“Ensuring we have access to any extra facilities and specialist services, is a critical process we must carry out.

“I can confirm that under our mortality planning scenario, we are engaging with the military and have secured national agreement to use of former RAF Woodhall Spa as a potential mortuary site, in the event of our current capacity being exceeded.

“Our teams within the Local Resilience Forum are now working to develop these plans as a scale-able response to meet the developing need of the county.”

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