The coronavirus is creating an impact on our communities and the way we grieve. As a result, funeral homes are taking steps to ensure the safety of the community. While there are some families that are deciding on postponing services, others are having smaller gatherings with social distancing. There are even some families that are providing live streaming of the funeral service for friends and acquaintances.
During these times, what’s the dynamic between COVID-19 and funeral homes? It’s advised to have a small number of attendees in a service like immediate family and close friends. A small group of people, around 10 people or less at a time is a good option to pay respects in a safer way. Additionally, it’s also advised to have these services outdoors or in spaces with good ventilation.
How can we make funeral services safer during COVID-19?
Practicing social distancing and keeping services small and private are the first steps to decrease the risk of exposure to the coronavirus. You can either live-stream the service or record it for those who are unable to attend but still want to honor the person who passed. Funeral homes are taking all the steps to adhere to the guidance by the CDC on public gatherings. Some of these steps are:
- Frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces like handles, doorknobs, light switches, etc
- Encouraging social distancing practices like avoiding direct contact with guests and families
- Keeping some doors open to avoid touching the doorknobs
- Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of the premises
- Educating the staff on best practices to diminish the risk of propagation of the virus
- Avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people at a time
If you’ve lost a loved one, you can rely on Funeral Caring USA to plan a dignified funeral service during these times.
