By Shannon Stapleton

FARMINGTON N.M. (Reuters). Shane Ferrari, New Mexico sheriff (NYSE:), uses planning to plan ahead for supplies like ammunition.

He has had to purchase enough shelving and coffins for COVID-19 patients over the last 12 months.

Ferrari assumed control of Farmington’s funeral service after his father died from COVID-19.

San Juan is “overrun” by bodies, as San Juan’s COVID-19 death rate per-capita in New Mexico ranks fifth in New Mexico. According to Reuters data for week ended Dec. 5, San Juan was among the most affected states in new cases.

San Juan ranks high in the U.S. virus death ranking and is also rural. It has very low vaccination rates, but voted heavily for Donald Trump’s former president.

Ferrari’s funeral parlor has three times the number of cases than normal. About three quarters are COVID-19. At the weekend, he plans to purchase an additional refrigerated unit.

Ferrari, 45 years old, said that he asks the Lord every day to use him as a tool and put me wherever you want me. He sat in an office filled with Navajo sand and paintings, and the weavings his father trades for his goods.

San Juan’s grave diggers and morticians are objective in dealing with COVID-19 death in the “four corners” region that includes New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

Ferrari stated that “we’re in the middle a pandemic” and that humans are going to die. He is a Republican, and a veteran 25-year officer who has played down any suggestions that he should run as a state governor.

Ferrari’s deputy visits the homes of COVID-19 victims and informs their families of their death during the day. To plan their final resting place, he uses the evenings.

‘BODY TETRIS’

A high school student operates a backhoe at the Kirtland Fruitland Cemetery to maintain COVID-19 burials. Her family is now the third generation to do community work by digging graves. Penny Washburn, Penny’s mother, said that they excavated more sites in a little over a year than they normally would have done in 10 to 15 decades.

Joanna Martinez (34), operates Ferrari’s cremation system. Her job is to deliver ashes to families who are facing prolonged waits of up to one month due to COVID-19 paperwork.

The body arrives with a COVID-19-positive tag attached to its white bag. Martinez removes the body from its refrigerated container and moves it out to be cremated. The new body is then inserted into Martinez’s place.

Martinez says that it’s a lot like playing body Tetris and figuring where to put whom, where,” Martinez said. Martinez has a tattoo of Lady Death “La Catrina”, on her right arm.

Her family has been affected by COVID-19 and she is currently unvaccinated.

“If I am going to be killed, then I will die,” she said. I won’t sit around and be afraid,” she stated.

New Mexico is one of the least wealthy states. Ferrari sometimes takes hunting equipment or household goods from families who can’t afford to pay the $1,895 that he charges for cremation.

He is concerned about the loss of loved ones from COVID-19, and urges people to keep their homes and to cover up any resentful behavior. He sees more people being vaccinated.

“I think the naysayers have a tendency to stop and take a second look at things the minute they lose somebody who’s close to them,” said Ferrari, who previously had COVID-19 and plans to get vaccinated this month.