Sadly the Council's bereveament service has been impacted by Covid 19 with a large part of the workforce either having Covid-19 or needing to self isolate.
The Council wants to reassure residents that they are doing all that they can to meet the funeral commitments for this week, but to do this they have made some changes to the service offer to protect those staff remaining and avoid further impact. These changes will remain in force until at least 20 January 2021.
The below provides further details from the Council of the additional measures that they are implementing to minimise the impact of the spread of the virus/need for staff to self isolate. The measures being introduced are also intended to enable the continued operation of the service which is imperative at this challenging time:
Bereavement Office:
- We will only be focussing on burial/cremations bookings and paperwork .
- Witnessed scattering services will be cancelled, and will be rescheduled once we are in a position to resume these services.
- ·To minimise the risk of transmission the Funeral Directors reception to the side of the Office will be closed. Appointments will be arranged to collect any ashes which will be conducted in a socially distanced fashion, we will not be able to provide ashes on an ad-hoc basis until further notice.
- All paperwork will need to be e-mailed and only brought in to the office in exceptional circumstances and in these instances it should be posted into the building via the front reception – we will then check this in the usual way and contact Funeral Directors via phone if there are any problems/issues.
- Staff will be available to answer the phones and will respond as soon as possible .
Crematorium:
- We are unable to provide attendants in the chapels. We will check the coffin prior to entry and see the Mourners into the chapel only.
- We will also be unable to arrange/change any music requirements on the day. All arrangers must ensure that this is fully booked prior to the funeral.
- We will continue not to permit the carrying or touch of coffins by families due to the high transmission rates.
- In line with Government guidelines we insist that masks/face coverings are worn by all that are able by those inside Chapels
- We will also have to discontinue any witnessed charging of coffins until further notice.
Burials:
Fortunately, at this stage, there is no impact upon this area of the service and staffing remains stable.
- A maximum of 30 mourners to burials
- Graveside - Immediate family only and must keep a respectful distance (6 feet / 2 meters) to allow cemetery staff to remove putlogs and check the identification of the deceased before interment.
- Once staff have removed themselves from graveside only then can the family and funeral director staff continue with the service.
- Cemetery staff will return to back fill the grave only once the funeral party have left the section. Cemetery Operatives will be present but at a discreet distance.
- The backfilling of graves by family members will not be permitted
- Cemetery staff will return to back fill the grave only once the funeral party have left the section. Cemetery Operatives will be present but at a discreet distance.
Public Mortuary:
- As per burials fortunately, at this stage, there is no impact upon this area of the service.
Communication:
- We are in communication with our Funeral Directors and funeral arrangers to ensure that those holding services including cremations and burials are provided with appropriate information, support and advice.
Photo by Angela Baker Orenda on Unsplash
