Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families
Holding funeral services and visitations
Familial and cultural expectations might put pressure on you and others to
participate in or hold or schedule funeral services and visitations. During
the COVID-19 pandemic, those expectations may need to be relaxed to protect
the safety of those who would have participated. People continue to get
exposed to COVID-19 at funeral
services ; the people
giving it to others were not feeling sick at the time and did not know they
were carrying or spreading COVID-19.
Consider the following modifications to funeral services and visitations to
help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These modifications are recommended for
events held in any setting, including funeral homes, cemetery facilities,
places of worship, private homes, and other venues.
Limit the attendees to a small number of immediate family and close
friends

Follow the guidelines from state and local officials and state and local health departments.
Those who are sick, have a household member or other close contact who is sick, or are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should not attend in person.
Consider limiting the number of people from different areas of the country or any areas with significant spread of COVID-19.
Consider offering other ways for family and friends to participate, such as by phone or online (live or recorded).

Practice social distancing and everyday preventive actions

Consider holding services and gatherings in a large, well-ventilated area or outdoors, as circumstances and traditions allow.
Space out seating for attendees who do not live in the same household to at least six feet apart.
Attendees who do not live in the same household should stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart and wear a cloth face covering when interacting with people who do not live in their household.
People who have been living in the same household can comfort each other in typical ways such as hugging, holding hands, and sitting next to each other.
Attendees should nod, bow, or wave instead of holding or shaking hands, hugging, or kissing anyone who does not live in their household.
All attendees should follow everyday preventive actions to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, such as washing your hands often and covering coughs and sneezes.

Consider changing traditional rituals or practices
Discuss with the funeral home director, clergy or officiant, and your family
any potential changes that might be necessary to protect all of the
participants and attendees. Consider options for modified or new practices
that would be acceptable to you and your family and friends, such as:

Holding a graveside-only service.
Changing or removing funeral practices that involve close contact or sharing things among members of different households, such as: 
Sharing a car or limousine ride between the church and cemetery.
Providing food and beverages for attendees after the service.


Changing religious rituals in consultation with clergy and other religious leaders.

If some traditions, such as certain religious rituals, sharing rides to the
gravesite, or having food and beverages, are considered essential to you and
your family and friends, consider modifying them.

Limit sharing of items, such as worship aids, prayer books, and other items shared or passed by clergy and attendees during religious rituals.
Group household members together inside the vehicle. Avoid having non-household members sharing vehicles to travel between locations during the services; if necessary, increase ventilation by opening windows or using the air conditioner on non-recirculating mode.
Have pre-packaged meal boxes or bags for each attendee instead of a buffet or family-style meal.

In some cultures, bringing food or gifts to grieving family members is an
important way to express care and concern. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
consider expressing care in ways that do not involve personal interactions.
Consider delivering food or gifts to grieving family members in ways that keep
people at least 6 feet apart, mailing care packages, or giving families gift
cards for food delivery services.
Avoid touching the deceased person’s body before preparation
There are many different cultural traditions involved in the bereavement
process, including some that involve touching the deceased person’s body
before preparation. Though we are still learning more about how COVID-19
spreads, it may be possible that you could get COVID-19 by touching the body
of a deceased person who had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 prior to the body
being prepared for viewing. After the body has been prepared for viewing,
there may be less of a chance of the virus spreading from certain types of
touching, such as holding the hand or hugging.
Take steps to protect yourself, such as:

Avoid touching, hugging, or kissing the body of a deceased person who had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 before and during body preparation, especially if you or a member of your household are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after any contact with the body. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Take precautions with rituals that involve touching the deceased person’s
body
If the deceased person had confirmed or suspected COVID-19, avoid kissing,
washing, or shrouding the body before, during, and after the body has been
prepared, if possible. Take precautions if participating in these activities
is part of important religious or cultural practices.

Work with your cultural and religious leaders and funeral home staff to identify how to reduce exposure as much as possible.
People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and members of their household should not be involved in these activities.
People conducting these activities should wear disposable gloves (nitrile, latex, or rubber). Additional protective equipment may also be required, such as disposable and waterproof isolation gowns, face shields or goggles, and facemasks (e.g., if splashing of fluids is expected).
Following preparation of the body, safely remove gloves (and other protective equipment, if used) and throw them away. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Shower as soon as possible.
If you did not wear an isolation gown while preparing the body, wash your clothes in the warmest setting possible and dry them completely.

If removing personal possessions (such as wedding rings) from the body or casket, clean and disinfect the items and wash hands right away.


Guidance on funeral and burial services for American Indians and Alaska Natives

Guidance on if your family member died from COVID-19 while overseas
If the deceased person had confirmed or suspected COVID-19, follow CDC guidelines to clean and disinfect the home and any items that will be removed from the home