At a New York funeral home, the undertakers can't bear to disappoint grieving families so they try to accept all coronavirus victims even if it means they are overwhelmed.

The number of daily COVID-19 deaths has halved from the peak 799 that New York recorded on April 9, but the phone at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a female-run business in Harlem, is still ringing off the hook.

Alisha Narvaez (R) and Lily Sage Weinrieb of International Funeral & Cremation Services transport a body on April 24 in the Harlem neighborhood of New York
Alisha Narvaez (R) and Lily Sage Weinrieb of International Funeral & Cremation Services transport a body on April 24 in the Harlem neighborhood of New York AFP / Johannes EISELE

"They're desperate, they're like, 'Hey, they're going to send my loved one to Potter's Field, the hospitals can't hold their body anymore. Can you help? Can you help?'" said funeral director Nicole Warring, one of four women who run the parlor.

"And it is so hard to say, give me a call back in two days, so that just breaks my heart," she told AFP.

Lily Sage Weinrieb, resident funeral director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, holds candles in the chapel at the funeral home on April 24
Lily Sage Weinrieb, resident funeral director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, holds candles in the chapel at the funeral home on April 24 AFP / Johannes EISELE

They have been inundated with COVID-19 victims since New York became the epicenter of America's outbreak last month.

For many families in the state, where more than 20,000 people are thought to have died from the virus, finding a funeral home able to accept their relative is a challenge.

Nicole Warring (L) and Alisha Narvaez work in the office of the funeral home on April 24
Nicole Warring (L) and Alisha Narvaez work in the office of the funeral home on April 24 AFP / Johannes EISELE

"We had people from all over the boroughs calling because a lot of funeral homes are filled to capacity. They're not even taking any more calls," said Warring.

Manager Alisha Narvaez also hates adding to the pain of the recently bereaved so endeavors to accept every body, meaning the staff are working day and night.

Alisha Narvaez works on her computer, which shows the planned funerals for people who had COVID19, on April 24
Alisha Narvaez works on her computer, which shows the planned funerals for people who had COVID19, on April 24 AFP / Johannes EISELE

"It's frustrating for me to not be able to service them the way I'd like. So the hardest part is turning families down, which I try not to do," said Narvaez.

New York's funeral homes have been overwhelmed with work amid the coronavirus pandemic. One establishment in Harlem is still hosting services for families, and is striving not to turn people away, even though they say their basement is "overflowing"
New York's funeral homes have been overwhelmed with work amid the coronavirus pandemic. One establishment in Harlem is still hosting services for families, and is striving not to turn people away, even though they say their basement is "overflowing" AFPTV / Diane DESOBEAU

One day last week AFP watched the undertakers bring two bodies to the funeral home in the back of a nondescript minivan.

Often they have driven to one of several white refrigerated trucks strewn across the city in recent weeks to collect the dead.

"Some of the trailers, the bodies (are) on the floors," said Warring. "I don't want to step on anyone -- it's just an overflow of bodies and it's traumatizing."

Narvaez, wearing heels, and staff member Lily Sage Weinrieb transported the bodies, which were in bags marked "COVID-19," into the premises on a stretcher.

Inside, the team prepares the bodies, completes administrative procedures and performs ceremonies in a special room where only ten people are permitted because of social distancing restrictions.

The bodies are then cremated at another site. When it's a COVID-19 case relatives rarely attend.

"People are in quarantine and don't come for services. So it'll just be us -- the director with the loved one at the cemetery. And so we'll record it and send it to (friends and family). It's tough," said Narvaez.

Narvaez, in her 30s, has been working seven days a week throughout the crisis but doesn't envisage being able to get some rest anytime soon.

"I just hope it does slow down a little bit because I really need a break. I need a vacation after this," she said.

Coronavirus