{"id":3265,"date":"2021-06-29T15:30:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T19:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebao.ca\/?p=3265"},"modified":"2021-06-29T15:35:47","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T19:35:47","slug":"reminder-new-covid-19-indoor-and-outdoor-funeral-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebao.ca\/stage\/reminder-new-covid-19-indoor-and-outdoor-funeral-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Reminder: New COVID-19 indoor and outdoor funeral restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
*Waterloo is now the only exception
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Reminder: Effective – Wednesday, June 30, 2021<\/strong><\/em>

This Registrar\u2019s Directive sets out the current rules on attendance at funerals and visitations, in conjunction with COVID-19 Step Two changes announced by the Government of Ontario.

Starting Wednesday, June 30, funeral gatherings (funeral services and visitations) are subject to the following attendance restrictions. **Note:<\/strong> Now only the Waterloo Region\u2019s health unit is delaying its move into Step Two. See the section near the bottom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indoor Funerals
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  1. The lesser of 25 per cent capacity of the room* or the number that can be maintained with physical distancing of two meters to a maximum attendance of 75 people. The maximum capacity of the room must be posted to be easily visible.
    *25 per cent capacity is determined by taking the total square metres of the floor area accessible to the public, not including furniture or fixtures, dividing by 16 and rounding down to the nearest whole number.\u00a0O.Reg.263\/20 s.3(3)<\/em>

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  2. Funerals are required to be staffed at a ratio of one (1) staff per 15 guests to a maximum of four (4) staff for 75.\u00a0
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  3. Multiple visitations are permitted, but they must be scheduled in complete groups with cleaning\/disinfecting between visitations. In the alternative, lining-up or cycling of guests is permitted only if the line is actively managed by a staff member to preserve two-metres physical distancing between guests (whether indoor or outdoor).\u00a0
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  4. Guests must be logged to enable contact tracing. Records must be kept for 30 days.\u00a0
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  5. There must be passive screening of guests, meaning have COVID signage at the entrance for guests to self-assess. (Here\u2019s a\u00a0link to the BAO\u2019s screening sign<\/a>, found on our COVID-19 web section.)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    Outdoor Funerals \/ Services at Cemeteries 
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    1. Attendance is limited to the number that can be maintained with physical distancing of two metres, to a maximum attendance of 75 people. 
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    2. If the gathering is under the care of a funeral director (if the funeral establishment was contracted to provide services at the cemetery) then the gathering must be managed by the funeral home to ensure physical distancing, with staffing at a ratio of one (1) staff per 15 guests to a maximum of four (4) staff for 75. 
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    3. Cemeteries may place further restrictions on access. Funeral professionals should communicate with local cemeteries in advance to determine what further restrictions may be in place. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      This province-wide Registrar\u2019s Directive applies to all funeral services, regardless of the venue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      **Exception \u2013 Waterloo <\/strong>
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      The exception will be funeral services held in the: <\/p>\n\n\n\n