Guidance

COVID-19: arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event

Guidance for arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

From:
UK Health Security Agency and Department of Health and Social Care
Published
19 April 2020
Last updated
22 March 2022 — See all updates

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For information on reducing the spread of COVID-19, use Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

Applies to England

Documents

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for funerals and commemorative events during the coronavirus pandemic

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Details

This advice is designed to assist people who are involved in arranging or attending a funeral or commemorative event following a death from any cause during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It is also for professionals who may be involved in arranging or managing a funeral or commemorative event.

This guidance has been developed to ensure that:

  • people are treated with sensitivity, dignity and respect when someone dies
  • funerals and commemorative events can continue to take place while minimising the risk of infection

The easy read and translation versions have been temporarily removed while they are being updated in line with the latest changes to guidance.

Please note

This guidance is of a general nature and should be treated as a guide, and in the event of any conflict between any applicable legislation (including the health and safety legislation) and this guidance, the applicable legislation shall prevail.

Updates to this page

Published 19 April 2020
Last updated 22 March 2022 + show all updates

  1. Updated guidance in line with the removal of legal requirements to self-isolate on 24 February.

  2. Added translated versions.

  3. Updated in line with removal of legal requirement to wear face coverings.

  4. Added translated versions.

  5. Added call out box regarding upcoming changes to face coverings legislation.

  6. Removed requirement for people testing positive on an LFD test to have a confirmatory PCR test.

  7. Updated to reflect changes in guidance on face coverings and the introduction of the NHS COVID Pass.

  8. Added translations.

  9. Updated guidance to confirm that permission to leave isolation also applies to contacts of suspected or confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

  10. Updated in line with change in messaging on when to take an LFD test.

  11. Added easy-read guide.

  12. Added translations.

  13. Updated in line with changes to regulations when entering England from overseas, and to reflect the end of the shielding programme.

  14. Added translations.

  15. Updated in line with changes to self-isolation for contacts from 16 August.

  16. Added translations.

  17. Removed previous version of the guidance. Temporarily removed easy read and translations while updating.

  18. Added new guidance in line with Step 4 of the roadmap for 19 July. Updated information for those attending and arranging an event, and for people leaving self-isolation or quarantine to attend a funeral.

  19. Updated guidance to remove information relating to legal restrictions prior to 21 June.

  20. Added translations.

  21. Updates to maximum number of people that may attend a commemorative event and also changes to clarification of definitions. Translations have been temporarily removed.

  22. Added translations.

  23. Updated to remove previous references to Step 2 of the roadmap.

  24. Updated to reflect Step 3 of the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown (from 17 May).

  25. Updated translations.

  26. Updated in line with regulation changes made on 29 March and 12 April.

  27. Added translated versions.

  28. Updated guidance for the period of national lockdown.

  29. Updated self-isolation period to 10 days.

  30. Updated with information on local restrictions from 2 December. Temporarily removed translated versions.

  31. Added translated versions.

  32. Updated guidance in line with 5 November national restrictions.

  33. Updated guidance in line with national restrictions commencing 5 November 2020.

  34. Updated guidance in line with the latest Health Protection Regulations 2020. Guidance for those managing a funeral is published elsewhere. Translations have been temporarily removed while being updated.

  35. Updated translated guidance in line with the Health Protection Regulations 2020 and The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

  36. Guidance updated in line with the Health Protection Regulations 2020 and The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

  37. Added translations in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (CN), Chinese (HK), French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi and Urdu.

  38. Updated to reflect the extension of self-isolation from 7 to 10 days.

  39. Updated link to information on local restrictions.

  40. Updated to reflect changes regarding overnight stays, instructions for testing and holding post-funeral rituals.

  41. Updated information on symptoms and face coverings.

  42. Added clarification on guidance and legislation.

  43. First published.

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