Area Funeral Homes Cope With Surge in Covid Related Deaths

The recent spike in local Covid deaths has put a strain on some  area funeral homes.

Erie County registering nine Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, on top of 15 deaths yesterday.

The Edder Funeral Home in Girard is handling six deaths in just the past 24 hours.

Funeral Director Dan Edder says that comes on top of an increase over the past few weeks as the virus surged.

He thinks some of the deaths are clearly directly related to deaths in hospitals and nursing homes.

But he thinks other deaths related to the pandemic, including some seniors suffering while isolated and alone.

Edder said, "I think we are seeing not just the particular Covid deaths but the response to this as a pandemic as a whole."

Edder says at times he has been handling so many deaths he has had to stagger schedules for viewing and funeral services.