Obituary of **UPDATE**, COVID-19

AS OF May 15, 2020 TEMPORARY OFFICE HOURS MONDAY TO FRIDAY 10:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS IMPORTANT RITUAL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AMONG OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HOWEVER, TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ILLNESS THE FOLLOWING ORDERS ARE SET FORTH BY THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE: Public Health measures (e.g. physical distancing) have been put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate the societal and health care system impact of the disease. These restrictions affect funerals and burials as well as cemetery and crematorium operations, even when the death is unrelated to COVID-19. Regardless of the cause of death, death care providers should consider the use of virtual technologies (e.g. telephone, video conference, video recordings) in place of in-person services and gatherings. There are many practices Funeral Home Directors can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep staff, families and visitors safe and healthy. At the funeral home: 1. Limit the number of family members making visitation/funeral/memorial arrangements to no more than 5 persons; 2. Restrict visitation to a gathering of no more than 15 persons at one time (not counting funeral home staff); 3. Refrain from in-person signing of the guest book and taking memorials/donations. Instead, use online mechanisms for people to offer condolences and give memorials/donations; 4. Funeral and/or memorial services may occur but must follow gathering limitations outlined in #2 and ensure physical distancing; 5. Cancel and abstain from hosting all public receptions; 6. Set up your space to accommodate appropriate physical distancing of at least 2-meters or 6 feet from all individuals, at all times; 7. Do not permit shaking hands, hugging, etc.; 8. Encourage hand washing by making available alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with a minimum of 60% alcohol content) or access to washrooms that are always well stocked with liquid soap and paper towels; 9. Have extra tissues on hand and a hands-free waste basket for disposal; 10. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, table-tops, bathrooms and other surfaces; and 11. Staff in Long-term Care facilities and Nursing Homes must refrain from creating receiving lines to honour the decedent. *Based on the guidance, staggering visitation is permitted. Enhanced cleaning and physical distancing must be followed. At burials and cemeteries: 1. Limit gatherings to no more than 20 people (not counting funeral home staff); 2. Do not permit shaking hands, hugging, etc.; 3. Practice physical distancing of 2 metres/6 feet between individuals and/or households. *Vehicles are permitted at the cemetery. Individuals should not exit their vehicle or gather as this may exceed the maximum outdoor gathering limit of no more than 10 persons. This practice is at the discretion of cemetery operators. ~Please note that any guidance shared is subject to change. We, at East Prince Funeral Home would like to assure you that your loved ones will be cared for and we will provide our services within the guidelines to keep everyone safe. For families choosing traditional funeral services, with casket present and embalming, please be advised that this is still possible. Embalming practices cleanse and disinfect the body, meaning a traditional funeral is possible. Please contact us if you need more information about embalming practices when an infectious disease is present. This is a trying time for many in our community and we will do our utmost to ensure families have the ability to say their farewells in a meaningful manner, while striving to minimize the transmission of this virus.