In Guayaquil, the second largest city in Ecuador, funeral homes collapsed. There are no coffins for all the dead, and cemeteries are unable to serve all families. The country registered the first case of covid-19 on February 29. Today (2), there are 2,758 confirmed cases and 98 deaths. The government of Ecuador reported that, yesterday (1st), it removed 150 bodies that were in houses in the city of Guayaquil. Families report that some dead remained at home for up to three days, waiting for funeral services. Not all deaths were due to infections with the new coronavirus. But the rapid increase in deaths meant that the authorities were unable to confirm the number of victims by covid-19. Since March 21, Ecuador has been experiencing a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am. However, in Guayaquil, the epicenter of the disease in the country, with 70% of cases, mandatory collection of people starts at 4pm. **Task force.** According to Jorge Wated, government representative for the coronavirus crisis, a task force with military and police was created to meet the demand and remove the bodies from homes. "The world was not prepared for this. Faced with this situation, the president [Lenín Moreno] ordered the creation of this joint force for the removal of bodies. We will continue to work tirelessly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to care for those affected ", said Wated, in a press conference yesterday. Wated apologized on his Twitter page. "We acknowledge any mistakes and apologize to those who took a long time to remove their loved ones in the previous weeks." According to local newspapers, only 20 of Guayaquil's 120 funeral homes are functioning. In addition to the fear of contagion by funeral professionals, there is a shortage of coffins because artisans are unable to buy wood, fabrics and paints, the supplies needed to make the coffins, due to restrictions on trade. Wated recognized flaws in Guayaquil's funerary system, deepened by the curfew, which limits the time for people to circulate and services, such as the collection of bodies by funeral agencies. "We are working to ensure that each person is buried with dignity and in individual spaces," said Wated, referring to a government-run cemetery with the capacity to house about 2,000 bodies. The spokesman's statement belies information that circulated on Ecuadorian social networks this week that the government was considering burying the deceased in a mass grave. Wated also said that Ecuador estimates that there will be between 2,500 and 3,500 dead, only in the province of Guayas, where the city of Guayaquil is located. Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health reports on its official website that it has 27 hospitals for specific care of coronavirus cases, 2,100 medical centers, and 133 hospitals qualified to serve citizens for other types of consultations. On March 11, the country declared a state of health emergency. **Births.** Due to the crisis, the country's Civil Registry offers the option of virtually processing birth certificates and, although there is an agency that takes care of personally, it recommends that the population postpone the registrations to prioritize death certificates and other urgent cases. Under Ecuadorian law, parents have up to 90 days to register births for free. https://www.brasil247.com/coronavirus/coronavirus-sistema-funerario-do-equador-entra-em-colapso