The federal government ordered 100,000 body bags to prepare for a “worst case” scenario of COVID-19 deaths.
The order cost $5.1 million and was placed last month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to the Wall Street Journal. The supply will come from a small company based in California which is on track to deliver the bags by Monday.
Last month, the Defense Department said FEMA requested 100,000 body bags for civilian use, but the latest purchase is separate from that request. The Pentagon was seeking to supply that amount and also made available its reserve of 50,000 bags.
Earlier this week, President Trump said the pandemic could cost the United States between 60,000 and 70,000 lives.
The U.S. leads the world in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with now more than 1 million people infected amid the pandemic. The death toll has risen to nearly 60,000.
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As many states prepared for their anticipated peak in confirmed cases, others have started to slowly reopen their economies.
In Georgia, restaurants have opened with caution, and people are using protective measures for customers who choose to dine in.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently unveiled “Phase 1” of reopening which includes limited openings for restaurants and retail stores. Some counties in the state also reopened its beaches with social distancing in mind.
Other states, such as California, face a divide between state and local officials on the timeline of reopening. Despite pushback from local officials, Gov. Gavin Newsom re-closed beaches in Orange County this week after they attracted large crowds of people, citing public health concerns.
