Burial Protocols: Only immediate family allowed during viewing
The government’s recently implemented burial protocols mandate that only immediate family members of deceased persons are allowed to view the bodies of their dead.
Immediate family members are classified as parents, siblings, children, spouses.
The protocols further state that viewings will only take place at the funeral home and family members will not be allowed to make physical contact with the deceased.
And after the viewing, the body of the deceased will be taken directly to the grave site for immediate burial.
“Any service in memory of the deceased can be held after, while bearing in mind the Public Health (COVID-19 Control and Suppression Measures) Order 2021, which limits all gatherings to one person per sixty-four square feet and shall not exceed 25 persons at any given time,” the Health Ministry said in a recent announcement.
It added: “The Ministry of Health has also advised that organisers of the funeral are to ensure that all safety measures are met, and that personal protective equipment, namely face masks are always worn by attendees. They are also encouraged to record the names and contact details of all in attendance so that this information can be used for contact tracing if necessary.”
The government’s burial protocols were designed to allow families to safely grieve as the territory experiences a major COVID-19 surge.
These guidelines for burials were created in consultation with key stakeholders such as the Coroner’s Office, Civil Registry, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the Department of Disaster Management and the Health Emergency Operations Centre – Unified Command Centre.
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How depressing, the hardest thing is to say goodbye.
It’s looking harder to convince people we need to be vaccinated to stand a chance. DO the right thing folks so we can mourn less.
Suspicious much!!!!!
The mother who lost three children will need extra support. I think an exception should be made for her to have extra support
Like this comment if you honestly believe any of this will be even remotely enforced.
To all the bereaved, please accept my sympathy. With this new funeral protocol please take my advice and don’t glamorize the burial, get the cheapest casket, don’t bury your hard earned resources,there will be no one to make comments anyway. Have the casket made locally and save thousands. Just something to consider….
This vip government moving like the vaccines gone to their heads, crazy.
I think who wrote this sounds like an ignorant person that don’t read
“an ignorant person that don’t read” – classic