If you are self-isolating due to a possible case of coronavirus in your household, or as advised by Wales NHS Test, Trace, Protect, you should not attend, unless the deceased is a family member or close friend. They also make provisions which regulate the conduct of associated social gatherings. Those attending should be advised not to touch, kiss or come into contact with the coffin. ensure those facilitating the venue of the funeral are made aware of your intention to attend. No one living in a tier 3 area of England, in a tier 3 or 4 area of Scotland or in Northern Ireland (referred to below as “restricted areas”), may enter or remain in Wales unless they have a reasonable excuse to do so. “The guidance from the UK … The ventilation available to prevent the accumulation of aerosol. Similarly those organising a funeral should be encouraged to open books of condolence and collections online, or to facilitate tributes to be paid by electronic communications or on social media. The general rule for gatherings in public places is that they are limited to 4 people, not including children under 11. Please note that the list of exempt countries is updated regularly and people travelling must check the self-isolation requirements for the day they arrive and act accordingly. However, if after careful consideration of the considerable risks you present to others, you choose to attend in person, and this is acceptable to the person arranging the funeral, it is essential that you take all of the following precautions: Those responsible for places of worship, crematoriums and funeral directors premises must take all reasonable measures for the purposes of minimising the risk of exposure to coronavirus at those premises, or the spread of coronavirus by those who have been at those premises. In England, the government has advised 30 people can attend a funeral. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. This advice is designed to assist people who are involved in arranging or attending a funeral related to a death from any cause during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. I am travelling for several hours to attend a funeral. The mourner can only leave their place of self-isolation when attending the funeral, and is otherwise expected to self-isolate for the remainder of the 10-day period unless another exemption applies. Given the very significant risk for people at increased risk and extremely vulnerable people who come into contact with coronavirus (COVID-19), it is strongly advised that they have no contact with the body of the deceased. Funeral directors have been given specific advice about how to organise funerals during the pandemic. The restrictions during our gradual move out of lockdown. Hand sanitiser or sanitising wipes should be used regularly whilst outside of the home. Regulation 6 provides that attendance at a funeral as a mourner is limited to those responsible for arranging the funeral, those specifically invited by the organiser of the funeral, and the carer of anyone attending. Outdoor funerals are subject to the same restrictions, with the number of attendees based on the risk assessment of the owner of the venue, and the ability of mourners to socially distance in a safe manner. The number of people able to attend a funeral is limited by the capacity of the venue whilst ensuring the physical distancing requirements are applied. image caption In Wales, people living in hotspot areas cannot travel - but people in England's can A ban on people travelling to Wales from coronavirus hotspots elsewhere in the UK … However, if you live in the restricted areas the Regulations provide that you have a reasonable excuse to attend a funeral in Wales if you are the person responsible for arranging it, if you have been invited to attend by the person arranging it or if you are the carer of a person attending. In Northern Ireland, a maximum of 25 people can go to a funeral. If you are the person responsible for arranging the funeral, and/or a close family member of the deceased, and you are in self-isolation we strongly recommend that you attend remotely. Specific provisions should be made where circumstances allow, such as separate entrances, and physical distancing measures between bell ringers and hand hygiene while pealing the bells and between them and the other attendees. This will not be possible during the public health emergency, but solace may be achieved in other ways. However, Regulation 10(4)(k) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020 provides an exception from the requirement to self-isolate, in limited circumstances, in order to attend the funeral of a family member or close friend. You can travel between council areas and protection levels to go to a funeral. It is possible for an organised group or groups of musicians or singers to play a part in the funeral service, but a specific risk assessment and mitigating actions should be put in place to provide a Covid-19 safe environment. All mourners should practise careful hand and respiratory hygiene: Mourners who are extremely vulnerable (formerly shielding) should be facilitated to attend, with processes put in place to minimise the risk of transmission. To help protect against the spread of coronavirus, funerals must be by invitation only. Wind instruments should not be played indoors. Yes, since 27 March people living in Wales can travel anywhere in the country. This will be clearly communicated to you before the funeral takes place. His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, 10 June 1921 to 9 April 2021. provision of information to those entering or working at the premises about how to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus. Separate guidance makes it clear that it is not expected that children under 11 maintain physical distancing. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. Those who are officiating/working at the venue are not included in the number of attendees. They must stay at home for the period instructed by NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect (which will end 10 days after the point of most recent contact with the person who has tested positive), advise the funeral organiser and other mourners that you are in your self-isolation period, and ensure that you do not attend at the same time as another mourner who may be at. However, if after careful consideration of the risk, you choose to attend in person, it is essential that you make others aware of your condition before the funeral service due to the high risk you present to them, particularly those who are extremely vulnerable. This should, however, only be a guide and a degree of flexibility can be exercised on the assumption that a significant proportion of those attending will be sitting together with members of their household (which could enable more people to attend). However, there are … This guidance could change if a local area faces tighter restrictions. However, although members of the public may attend a funeral, they should be respectful of the fact that there are restrictions that have been imposed as a result of a public health emergency. The following information will help you to understand some of the main restrictions that are in place. This guidance has been prepared to help people at this very difficult time. Spoken responses should also be made quietly. These have an impact on how funerals are organised but they do enable funerals to go ahead because we recognise it is important for people to say goodbye to a loved one. However, there are significant risks associated with playing wind instruments and with singing or chanting. In view of the risk of people attending uninvited (as of course is the normal practice), those organising should also be encouraged to limit information about the location of the funeral in death notices and make clear that attendance at the funeral is by invitation only. Please note that in order to attend a funeral as a mourner a person must be the person arranging it, have been invited or be the carer of someone lawfully attending it. Given the increased risk of severe illness for extremely vulnerable people from COVID-19, it is strongly advised that they have no contact at all with the deceased and do not participate in any activities such as washing, preparing or dressing the deceased. You should travel to the venue in a car by yourself or with people from your household, especially if you are at increased risk or extremely vulnerable. Entry into Wales is allowed if by means of avoiding illness, injury or other risk of harm. Detailed guidance on care of the deceased is available and should be followed, regardless of the setting in which personal care of the deceased is provided. The legal requirement is that all reasonable measures are taken to ensure a distance of 2 metres is kept between those attending. It is possible for funerals to be broadcast online (if broadcasting requires a technician or someone to manage the filming that the number should be the absolute minimum and considered in the calculation of how many can attend), and those who wish to do this should be helped to do so. Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals are allowed under the new rules in England, according to the latest Government advice. The current national lockdown rules on attending funerals mean services are allowed to go ahead with no more than 15 mourners. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Funerals can be a distressing experience, and the impact of coronavirus is making it even more difficult to make practical arrangements. As every venue may have different rules on how many are allowed at a funeral service, your local funeral director will be able to let you know how many attendees your chosen funeral venue allows. The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 impose restrictions on individuals, businesses and others social activities. If appropriate worshippers can read hymns, songs, prayers or other texts in a lowered voice. Local authorities have the discretion to allow people to stay in hotels if they are travelling long instances to attend a funeral. If that person declines or is unable to comply with those conditions, the operator may refuse to admit them. GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. The … By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Travelling to a funeral Scotland. The restriction on gatherings in regulation 6 applies, subject to having a reasonable excuse for gathering. If you are legally required to self-isolate you may only leave self-isolation if attending the funeral of a family member or close friend and otherwise must continue to self-isolate. Those closest to the deceased take consolation from friends and family attending the funeral of their loved one. Only 15 mourners can attend a wake under the latest coronavirus rules.. Boris Johnson unveiled a new three-tier lockdown system, where areas across England will … Hymn books should be removed making use of bespoke order of service pamphlets for all purposes instead. This includes washing, preparing or dressing the body. The death of anyone close to you is a very distressing and sad event. The Regulations require those responsible for those premises to take reasonable measures which must be taken by all workplaces and premises open to the public to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus. Actions to reduce the risk of infection for all attendees by the person arranging the funeral should include: Actions to reduce the risk of infection for all attendees by those responsible for premises where funerals are conducted must include: Mourners who are at increased risk or extremely vulnerable should adhere to rigorous hand and respiratory hygiene at all times but particularly whilst out of the home environment. This file may not be fully accessible. Examples of such reasonable excuses are to attend a funeral or and a gathering to celebrate the life of a deceased person. In most circumstances people are expected to practice physical distancing measures. However, people attending to peal bells should be included in the risk assessment process and subsequent protocols for attendance at the event. In so far as a crematorium or place of worship is concerned, the appropriate limit will depend on the size and layout of the building. Attending a funeral or an associated social gathering, is an exception to the restrictions on gatherings in public places, under which the general rule is that gatherings in public places must be limited to 4 people. As from Friday, March 20, only 12 mourners, together with one officiator and one funeral director, are being permitted into the chapel at Parc Gwyn … This should be implemented by informing those who are organising funerals that they must expressly invite those they wish to attend (though this does not require any formality such as sending an invitation in writing). We understand how difficult this will be for their families and friends, however the current guidance will be in place for the foreseeable future for the safety of the public and to ensure that funeral directors, crematoriums and burial grounds can continue to offer as normal a service as possible. A simplified version aimed at members of the public can be found in the Annex. Home. The same applies to … They will be able to guide you through the process and help you make arrangements, making sure that you receive the advice and support you need. Attending funerals, often in great numbers, is an important part of Welsh culture. That may be outside a crematorium or place of worship, or at a graveside. It is important also to limit the extent that people from different households congregate after a funeral. In England up to 30 people can attend the funeral, as long as the venue can ensure social-distancing can be maintained. Yes, but you must be invited. A figure should be calculated for each crematorium or place of worship, based on the number that could reasonably be accommodated if every person sat 2 metres apart. COVID has halted travel for more than a month now, making it a punishable offence to leave the UK without a reasonable excuse. 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