Many deaths

Winter months mean more work for morticians

In Upper Austria, the deceased must be buried in a cemetery.(Bild: Scharinger Daniel)

Last year, the number of deaths in Austria fell for the first time since the start of the pandemic. When it is cold outside, however, a particularly large number of people die - the "Krone" wanted to know how morticians deal with these "peaks" and what there is to consider in the funeral sector. New regulations have been introduced in Upper Austria for mortuary services.

What many do not want to believe is now irrefutably cast in statistics: since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of deaths has risen steadily, reaching a new record of 93,332 across Austria in 2022. According to Statistics Austria, the figures have been falling again for the first time since the previous year - 5,000 fewer deaths were counted in 2023 than in 2022.