The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting morgue capacities in Maricopa and Pima counties.

Maricopa County Communications Director Fields Moseley said planners at the office of the medical examiner are "acquiring coolers and staffing because they are nearing the capacity for body storage."

Moseley said this occurs almost every summer, but the pandemic has further complicated the situation.

In Pima County, the Office of the Medical Examiner "is working to provide additional capacity for hospitals, funeral homes, and mortuaries to store human remains."

A Pima County spokesperson said the capacity has become a problem over the past couple of weeks and attributed the issue to a slowdown in the funeral process.

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