Romans are being forced to take their dead to other cities after the capital city’s crematorium set strict limits on numbers to handle its backlog.
With 1,500 coffins waiting for cremation at the Prima Porta cemetery, officials have said that they will accept only 200 a week while they try to catch up.
“We have six ovens and we can cremate 350 a week,” a spokesman said. “By accepting just 200 weekly henceforth we can work off the backlog.” The cemetery has ordered large refrigerated containers to hold the coffins.
The weekly limit will be passed as the coronavirus drives up the death rate. The city registered a total last month of 3,940 deaths, 64 per cent higher year on year as the city suffers
