COVID-19: Changes to arrangements at the crematorium

North East Lincolnshire Council is introducing some changes at Grimsby Crematorium to help keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are strict limits already in place on the number of people who can attend a funeral.

A maximum of 30 mourners may attend a funeral service. This means a maximum of 30 mourners in total, not 30 inside with more outside the crematorium building.

There have been a small number of instances where 30 people have been inside the chapel with more gathering outside.

As a result, the outdoor speaker system used to relay services to mourners gathered outside has been switched off.

Live webcasts of funeral services are available to mourners who cannot attend the service in person. Recordings are available for up to 28 days afterwards. Funeral directors can also arrange for recordings to be copied to a memory stick.

Scatterings and interments of cremated remains continues, but the maximum number of mourners permitted to attend has been reduced to six.

The following restrictions also remain in place:

• The crematorium office is closed to the public. Please call or email instead email [email protected] or telephone 01472 324869
• Scatterings and interments of cremated remains continues, but the maximum number of mourners permitted to attend has been reduced to six. People must respect social distancing guidelines.
• The Book room will remain open for people to view the Books of Remembrance as normal
• The crematorium grounds, Scartho Road and Cleethorpes cemeteries are closed to the public. Cemetery grounds and the crematorium are now only open to those attending a service or paying respects at a grave.
• Funerals are running and up to 30 mourners can now attend, but people must stay two metres apart from each other unless they are from the same household. All visitors must abide by social distancing rules at all times to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Any mourner who has COVID-19 symptoms (a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell) should not attend the funeral as they pose a risk to others.

Cllr Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for Environment and Transport at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“Our bereavement services staff are working hard to balance the needs of people to mourn while also minimising the spread of COVID-19.

“The government’s guidance is there to make sure bereaved people are treated with sensitivity, dignity and respect and at the same time mourners and workers involved in the management of funerals are protected from the avoidable risk of infection.

“I’m grateful to everyone attending funerals and respecting the rules in these difficult times. It helps reduce the risk of infection to other mourners and our staff.”

Social distancing for mourners

Social distancing measures reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and include staying at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from others and following the guidance on hand hygiene and preventing the spread of infection:

• washing one’s hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing one’s nose, or after being in public areas
• when coughing or sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with a tissue and throw the tissue away immediately, or in the absence of a tissue, use the crook of one’s elbow (not hands) to cough or sneeze into. Then wash both hands or use hand sanitiser
• face coverings must be worn by law in indoor places of worship, crematoria and burial ground chapels unless exempt for health, disability or other reasons.

Experiencing grief or bereavement

Whenever the loss of a friend or loved one happens, it can be an extremely difficult and challenging time. This may be even more difficult for those experiencing bereavement and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about grief and support available:

North East Lincolnshire Bereavement Support Service: call 01472 250623 to be put in touch with the right support based on your needs

NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-bereavement/

Cruse Bereavement Care: www.cruse.org.uk or call 0808 808 1677

Care for the Family: www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life/bereavement-support/ or call 029 2081 0800

NHS Child bereavement: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/children-and-bereavement/

Child Bereavement: www.childbereavementuk.org or call 0800 02 888 40