NE Lincolnshire Council announces crematorium and cemetery restrictions
North East Lincolnshire Council has introduced a series of new restrictions at its crematorium and cemeteries in an effort to keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Thursday 5 November, the crematorium office will be closed to the public, the waiting area and book of remembrance room will also subsequently be closed to members of the public including weekends.
Funeral services can reportedly continue with up to 30 mourners attending both burials and cremation ceremonies.
Mourners must stay two metres apart from each other unless they are from the same household.
The council emphasised that there can be a maximum of 30 mourners in total, not 30 people inside with additional outside the crematorium building.
Scatterings and interments of cremated remains will also continue with a maximum of 15 mourners permitted to attend, but the council warned people must respect the social distancing guidelines.
Any mourner who has Covid-19 symptoms such as 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 would be deemed a “risk to others”.
The crematorium grounds in Scartho Road and Cleethorpes cemeteries will remain open as per the seasonal opening hours.
Cllr Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for Environment and Transport at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “With the rise in cases locally and the new national lockdown, we’re introducing some measures to help limit the spread of the virus.
“Our bereavement services staff are working hard to balance the needs of people to mourn while also minimising the spread of Covid-19.”
He added: “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.”
