A Scottish council is transforming a military hangar into a temporary mortuary during the coronavirus pandemic

Moray Council has stressed that the conversion is a precautionary measure

Moray Council took the decision to transform the military hangar at Kilnoss Barracks as part of their emergency planning procedure and it has been approved by the Military of Defence.

The hangar is currency lying empty having previously held a Nimrod Maritime Patrol aircraft.

A hangar at Kinloss Barracks has been transformed into a temporary mortuary

Jim Grant, Head of Economic Growth and Development commented: “As part of its emergency planning procedure Moray Council approached the MoD to use hangar facilities at Kinloss Barracks as a standby mortuary. This was agreed.

“Similar to other local authorities, the council has to plan for the worst case scenario emerging from the C-19 pandemic.

“As people are following Scottish Government advice and staying home, we hope that the extra capacity made available to us by the MoD will not be required. However, it’s incumbent upon the council to ensure measures are in place to cope with whatever results from the pandemic locally.

“We would ask everyone to adhere to the Scottish Government guidance to stay at home so that the number of deaths are reduced and facilities such as this will not be needed.”

This comes on the back of the confirmation that Glasgow’s SEC would become a new field hospital, newly named NHS Louisa Jordan after a Scottish WWI nurse.

The number of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland is 2,310.