Coffins of people who have died from coronavirus in the church of the Serravalle Scrivia cemetery
(Photo : REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)
Coffins of people who have died from coronavirus in the church of the Serravalle Scrivia cemetery, which like many places in northern Italy is struggling to cope with the number of deaths from the virus, in Alessandria, March 23.



MADRID -- Spanish soldiers who were tasked to disinfect care homes have found numerous residents in elderly homes abandoned, with some suspected of dying from COVID-19.

Authorities said the troops found residents living among the infectious bodies of dead residents on Tuesday after they were brought in to disinfect care homes in Spain.

Defense Miniter Margarita Robles said staff abandoned their duties after traces of coronavirus were detected in the care homes. She said several other facilities were also found abandoned but refused to name or say how many bodies were found.

Robles also said the government will now observe strict and inflexible guidelines with the way older people are treated in care homes, a statement Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa echoes.

Health officials in Spain told a media outlet that cares home patients are often left in their beds when their cause of death is related to the new coronavirus. Properly-equipped funeral staff are then called in to retrieve the body.

Meanwhile, Spanish officials designated an ice rink as a temporary mortuary for coronavirus victims.

Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into the grim discovery.



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There are now 421,367 COVID-19 cases across the globe with a death toll of 18,810. Health officials worldwide have reported 108,388 recovered patients.

Nursing homes have easily become breeding grounds for COVID-19 worldwide. A long-term elderly care facility in the US was linked to the deaths of over 37 residents due to the virus.

Federal officials found staff members who worked at multiple elderly homes while sick themselves, contributing to the spread of the new coronavirus among the vulnerable patients.

Dozens of care homes in Spain are overwhelmed by the rampant spread of the disease---largely due to the lack of personal protective equipment as well as medical equipment and testing kits.

The country has seen added 53,000 healthcare workers, 4 million masks and 1,5 million protective equipment.

The Spanish government announced it will take over control of senior-care facilities from private companies.

An expert said the incident has brought to light the dire conditions of Spain's nursing homes, most of which lack personnel and resources, an issue unaddressed by private investors.

Madrid turned two hotels into makeshift hospitals to address the lack of space and the influx of COVID-19 patients. Local authorities said they plan to convert five other establishments. Madrid's local hotel association also offered 40 establishments for the use of medical workers and professionals.

Spain, along with other European countries such as Italy and France, has been faced with a staffing shortage since the number of COVID-19 cases surged. Spain, which has 40,000 confirmed cases, has said 14% of the cases (5,400) involved medical professionals. Meanwhile, more than 30 healthcare workers have died due to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

The World Health Organization recently warned countries to observe stricter defensive measures as the virus accelerates. They also released a campaign in partnership with FIFA in a bid to promote coronavirus preventive measures.

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