REST IN PEACE
How many people can attend a funeral now?
BORIS JOHNSON has confirmed that the number of mourners allowed to attend a funeral in England will rise on May 17.
It will be a tiny bit of solace for those looking to bury their loved ones after more than a year of just a few being able to attend due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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How many people are currently allowed to attend a funeral?
The rules were relaxed on April 12 to allow 30 people to attend funeral services and for wakes up to 15 people.
In the third stage of lockdown easing, from May 17, the capacity will be determined by how many people places of worship or funeral homes can safely have inside while mourners are social distancing.
It means that some places will allow "significantly" more than just 30 people to attend.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "The British people have made huge sacrifices throughout the pandemic to protect the NHS and save lives, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the deeply painful restrictions on the numbers attending funerals.
"Losing a loved one has been incredibly hard during the pandemic and I am pleased we are now in a position, thanks to everyone's continued efforts and the rollout of the vaccine, to remove these limits and allow more friends and family to come together and pay their respects.
"I look forward to working with faith leaders responsible for places of worship, and those who manage venues such as funeral homes, to introduce the new arrangements in a way that continues to keep people safe."
From June 21, Boris Johnson hopes to release all restrictions on social gatherings, meaning an unlimited number of people will be able to attend funerals.
The move was welcomed by the National Association of Funeral Directors' chief executive Jon Levett, who said: "Throughout the pandemic the Government has made sure immediate families were able to be there to say goodbye to a loved one and this has always been valued.
"But it's critical that all those who are grieving are not forgotten in the reopening of society - and for many families, the current restrictions have meant telling people very close to the person that has died that they simply couldn't be there.
"We'd still also like to see the Government move forward with its plan to trust the public to make informed, personal decisions about social contact - using testing as a safety mechanism - enabling us all to offer the simple comfort of holding hands, or giving a much-needed hug, to those who are isolated in their grief."
In Scotland, up to 50 people can go to a funeral, with plans to extend that to 100 from 7 June.
Neither Wales nor Northern Ireland has a limit on numbers, but venues can set restrictions.
Do funeral directors need to wear PPE?
Those handling bodies should be aware that there is likely to be a continuing risk of infection from body fluids and tissues where coronavirus infection is suspected or confirmed.
While the risk of infectious transmission is lower than for living patients, action should be taken to mitigate that risk.
Are burials being live-streamed for family and friends who can't attend?
According to The Church of England's guidance for clergy when it comes to funeral services, family and friends of the deceased who cannot attend funerals should be engaged either by telephone or online.
The Church of England has released guidance in order to ensure funeral services can go ahead in a safe manner.
In the guidance, it is suggested that funerals can be live-streamed from the graveside to loved ones who are not able to attend.
The Church of England encouraged people to get creative with streaming services.
Other institutions are encouraging the use of live streams at funerals as it limits the number of people who attend funerals.
MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS
In the guidance, it is suggested that funerals can be live-streamed from the graveside to loved ones who are not able to attend.
The Church of England encouraged people to get creative with streaming services.
Other institutions are encouraging the use of live streams at funerals as it limits the number of people who attend funerals.
Eager shoppers around the country queue to spend at the tills as covid lockdown regulations ease
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