VISITATION AND FUNERAL
in the shape of an “X,” six feet apart leading up to the register stand. One option would be to have a funeral attendant at the register book stand, who then writes in the individual's name in the guest book. Another idea is to have two boxes of pens on a stand next to the register. Label one box “clean” and one box “dirty.” As individuals sign the registry, they will put the pen they used in the box labeled “dirty.” After the service is complete, the pens will be sanitized for the next upcoming service. Near the pen box should be hand sanitizer bottles with 70% isopropyl alcohol solution. Hand sanitizer bottles, extra tissue boxes, and small garbage cans should be easily accessible and placed throughout the funeral home or church. If the visitation or funeral is at the funeral home, encourage social distancing by using chairs. The chairs should be placed strategically six feet apart. If the service is at a church, use a colored tape on the pew in the shape of an “X,” which would designate one group of a family. Skip one entire pew, and then place another “X” with colored tape. This designated seating will encourage social distancing. Another option is putting a circle sticker on the floor that says “Please Sit Here” in front of the pew. You may also entertain the idea of holding the visitation at an outdoor pavilion at a local park. This allows for greater social distancing, as everyone is not confined to one or two rooms as they are in the funeral home or church. In the case of a service where the deceased died of COVID, flower baskets can be used to restrict close access to the deceased and control the risk of transmission. Another option is to use red velvet ropes to restrict access. If restrictions are not what you desire for the service, then have a funeral attendant at the head end of the casket, which will allow them to oversee as a control precaution. It is highly discouraged for anyone to kiss the deceased that died of COVID. If a family member does touch the deceased, they should wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer conveniently placed by the casket. This virus is extremely viable, so if it can stay active on stainless steel for four days, it can also be active on a dead human body. That said, though, it is our responsibility to protect the public at the funeral home. We are not advising the attendant to interfere with family members paying their respects to their loved ones. Because of the COVID restrictions, many family members have decided to forego services until the pandemic is over. As honorable as that may be, it is difficult to say for certainty when or if this will ever be over. Families want a service, and they want to honor their loved one. They feel their family member is being cheated by not having a full traditional service or a memorable celebration of life. Though there are restrictions and all funeral operating procedures have been deviated, funeral professionals still need to guide the families they serve, giving them every option to honor their loved ones.
The most notable deviations in the funeral industry are how COVID–19 has affected every aspect and function in honoring and celebrating a life lived through visitations and funerals. Because the funeral home is often visited by the elderly, it is our moral and ethical responsibility to protect its visiting clients. To protect the safety of the funeral home administration and others, restrictions have had to be implemented. Many states have enacted laws imposing a limit of attendance for funerals or, at a minimum, have direct burials or graveside services. As an example, Illinois requires a maximum of 10 individuals that could attend a funeral. Furthermore, counties set additional regulations limiting the public funeral service. Funeral homes across the country have taken many steps to protect the public and stop spreading this deadly disease. The funeral home should have signs at the door, indicating that masks are required for entry. This is the first proactive prevention step. Another sign can be placed in either the foyer or main entrance giving the mourner guidance as to what is expected. A template sign could read: “We strongly encourage you to consider social distancing (6 feet apart) during the visitation. Consider the well-being of everyone. We discourage any physical interactions with the family. Please consider returning home immediately after the visitation. The funeral service will be limited to only the immediate family.” You may also want to establish separate entrances and exits to allow for social distancing. Of course, signs are not required by law, but as a public venue business, it is now your responsibility to keep individuals safe. To go a step further, many funeral homes and churches are utilizing noncontact infrared thermometers to check temperatures. They will write the person’s name down along with the temperature. The human body temperature is 98.6 degrees, so the attendant should check for deviation of plus or minus 2 degrees. If an individual’s temperature is suspicious, it is suitable to wait 10 to 20 minutes before rechecking their temperature again. The temperature deviation may be from the use of either heat or air conditioning in the car. If the temperature is still unsatisfactory, it will behoove the mourner to make other alternative arrangements for offering condolences. To reduce fomite contact and potential spread of the disease, many funeral homes have opted out of displaying the register book. One reason is that many will congregate in a group around the book while sharing memories or seeing old friends. The issue here is the lack of social distancing. The second reason to not have a register book is there are only one or two pens for the registry. If there is someone who is asymptomatic who does sign the book, the pen is now a contaminated fomite. The issue here is unknowingly spreading the disease through the use of pens. If you do plan on using a register book, one recommendation would be to have a colored tape on the floor
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