The Government have made technical amendments to the Regulations on burial and crematoria grounds this week to clarify that burial grounds and the grounds surrounding a crematorium do not have to close. This also makes clear that individuals can continue to visit burial grounds or a garden or remembrance to pay respects to a loved one.
A letter has been sent from Simon Clarke to local authorities clarifying the guidance on parks. It asks local authorities to keep parks open and make practical arrangements to maintain social distancing. It clarifies regulations on cemeteries – they can remain open. Burial grounds may remain open, and grounds surrounding a crematorium may also remain open, including gardens of remembrance.
The Government has made clear that funerals should continue to be held, to allow family and loved ones the opportunity to say goodbye as a fundamental part of the grieving process, and to respect the wishes of the deceased. A letter to all councils was issued last week emphasising the need for funeral services to continue whilst maintaining clear social distancing guidelines to balance the safety of mourners and crematorium and funeral staff.
Mourners who are in an extremely clinically vulnerable group should be facilitated to attend, should they wish to do so. They must follow the general social distancing advice, maintaining a distance of 2 metres away from others as a minimum, to reduce risk of infection. PHE updated its funeral guidance last week to provide more detail on holding funerals safely, and to be clear that delays to funerals should be avoided.
