17th June 2021
Public Health England and the Department of Health & Social Care has issued updated guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic. This revised guidance applies in England and will take effect from 21st June 2021.
The updated guidance includes :
- From 21 June, there will no longer be a cap of 30 attendees for commemorative events. The number of people who can attend a commemorative event, such as a wake, will instead be brought in line with restrictions on funerals. The number of attendees in a COVID-Secure venue, such as a hospitality venue, or other venue (such as a garden of a private home) will be determined by how many people the venue can safely accommodate with social distancing measures in place, including guests of all ages and anyone working at the event
- Some restrictions on these events will remain in place to enable them to take place safely. This includes table service requirements, face coverings, social distancing, and restrictions on dancing and singing, as at present.
- This also means funerals can now be held in gardens of private homes, although this is only likely to happen in exceptional circumstances.
- Inside private homes events can only be held in line with broader social contact rules of up to 6 people or 2 households.
- For those organising funerals or commemorative events in gardens of private homes, on private land or in a public outdoor space and are planning on having more than 30 people, they must complete a COVID-19 risk assessment. This is now covered in greater detail in the guidance.
- There is also updated guidance on enforcement for members of the public organising events in other venues such as private gardens.
You can read the updated guidance here: