One of the casualties of the measures brought in to combat the spread of Covid-19 is the ways in which funerals can be conducted. Social distancing regulations are playing havoc with families who cannot properly grieve for the passing of their loved ones.
“It is hard for the families. A whole life is remembered with just a few family members to attend the funeral. It is very sad,” said Nik Georgaklis, the managing director of Joannides Funerals of Balwyn North in Melbourne.
Now families have to decide who can go to the funeral and who must stay at home during the funeral and burial of a loved one.
Mr Georgaklis said up until last week the rules had been open to interpretation but the regulations became very clear when from Wednesday, 25 March, the federal government announced that funeral groups would be restricted to 10 people a time and social-distance of 1.5m must be kept at all times.
“We have to enforce the government rules. We are not driving the families (to the funerals), we are rubbing the coffin with antiseptic every time it is touched and we are trying to limit contact between people.”
“You can’t show compassion without touching and this is an industry that is based on compassion but how can we show it. It is very hard,” said Mr Georgaklis.
Peter Tziotzis of Orthodox Funerals said some family members were frustrated by the regulations but that the message was being heard.
“We have been speaking directly to the people and they understand,” said Mr Tziotzis. “But it is hard because the human side has to be there at a time like this.”
Nick Kourtetsis of Tobin Brothers as the regulations stand people can pay their respects in groups of 10 with the social distance of 1.5m kept between mourners.
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“If we go to Stage3 (of the quarantine regulations) then that may no longer be possible and the changes could come within weeks,” he said.
“We protect ourselves, we wash regularly and keep a safe distance between each other and mourners.
“At our offices no more than two people can come into the office at any one time.
Last week Funeralcast announced a 600 percent increase in its funeral webcasting business. This allows for a funeral service to be streamed directly to family and friends who cannot be at the funeral.
Mr Joannides said his company had been providing a videod funeral service through its Facebook site but families were not taking up the service.
“Grieving families are not tin the mood to do this as they are more worried about many other things: their jobs, their health. For them it is a quiet time for prayer.
“If the families asked for it, we would do it,” he said.
The service however would increase funeral costs.
“Everyone has the option for a webcaset but it is an added cost so people are not taking it up,” said Mr Tziotzis.
Mr Kourtezis said some clients had used the webcast service for their extended families.
“These are trying times. We are doing the best we can. It is difficult for the grieving families to accept but it is the law. We try to be creative with the limits that we have,” he said.