New York rules out mass coronavirus burials but admits ‘unclaimed’ victims are being laid to rest on Hart Island

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New York City has ruled out using Hart Island for “mass burials” after drone footage and imagery circulated of a large trench at the public cemetery.

Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement on Twitter about Hart Island stating the public cemetery would not be used as a “mass burial” site despite reports.

“The pictures of our fellow New Yorkers being buried on Hart Island are devastating for all of us. I want to make sure everyone knows what they’re seeing and what is actually happening on Hart Island,” he wrote. “Remember, these are human beings. These are neighbours we’ve lost.”

The mayor went on to state there was no plans for any “mass burial” on Hart Island to account for people who have died during the pandemic. Instead, anyone buried there would be “treated with dignity”.

“We do not anticipate temporary burials on Hart Island except for the unclaimed,” he added.

Hart Island, located at the western end of Long Island Sound, has been used by the city for the last 150 years as a public cemetery and is managed by the department of corrections.

Individuals buried on the island are “because their identity is unknown at the time of their death and a next of kin could not be located to arrange for burial services, because the individual’s family could not afford burial costs, or because the individual’s family preferred that their loved one be buried on Hart Island”, according to the government’s website.

The mayor said Covid-19 has not changed how Hart Island has been used by the government. Since New York City has experienced an increase to its death toll from the virus, that also meant an increased number of individuals unclaimed by family members.

“The heartbreaking numbers of deaths we’re seeing means we are sadly losing more people without family or friends to bury them privately,” Mr de Blasio wrote. “Those are the people who will be buried on Hart Island, with every measure of respect and dignity New York City can provide.”

Normally, about 25 people are buried at Hart Island per week. But since the start of the pandemic, 24 people have been buried in the pubic cemetery per day, NBC News reports. Over one million people are interred on the island.

Aerial images taken by the Associated Press showed the large trench on the island and about 40 coffin lined up for burial by workers. The Independent has contacted Hart Island officials for a comment on the images.

The medical examiner’s office previously said it would only hold bodies for up to 14 days for family members to claim them. But Mr de Blasio said he was working with the federal government ”to ensure we’re compassionate and respectful to every family and hold the remains of their loved one until they’re ready to make arrangements.” He did not state how long bodies could be held if family members were unable to claim them within 14 days.

New York City has been the hardest hit city in the US during the pandemic.

The city has 87,028 confirmed infections and 5,150 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday the state would bring in more funeral directors to help accommodate the increased death toll.

“If you would’ve told me as governor I would have to take these actions...I can’t even comprehend where we are at now,” Mr Cuomo said about enlisting more directors.

In New York state, 7,844 people have died from the novel virus.