A New Jersey assemblywoman has announced a bill that would require all nursing homes in the state to have morgues.

Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle is sponsoring the legislation to ensure that there is a designated space for the residents who may die at the facilities.

The measure stems from the discovery of 17 bodies found in a makeshift storage area at Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation. The facility is no longer allowed to accept new residents.

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State leaders say that Andover has until next week to hire three more administrators – including an infection control professional. The new hires will be approved by the state.

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in New Jersey have been hit hard by COVID-19. State officials say that many of the deaths from the virus have occurred inside of these types of facilities.