Grieving families are now allowed to farewell loved ones at funeral homes under a change to alert level 4.
Funeral directors warn there are limited numbers who are fully vaccinated as required under rules for supervising viewings under level 4. Photo: 123RF
However, funeral directors warn there may not be enough staff who are fully vaccinated to allow every whānau to say goodbye in person.
From today families can visit registered funeral homes during alert level 4, provided they are in the same bubble, wear masks, maintain social distancing and do not touch the tūpāpaku (dead person).
The Funeral Directors Association welcomed the government's change of heart.
President Gary Taylor said the association wrote to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield last week, asking for restrictions to be relaxed to allow viewings.
"This will be a huge relief for those families in alert level 4 who are now able to at least see their loved one at peace after our members have cared for them and we thank the government for listening and accepting our proposal."
Association chief executive David Moger said the Ministry of Health's conditions for viewings were all in line with the industry's proposal, "except for one": the requirement for the funeral director supervising the viewing to be fully vaccinated.
"This is problematic because when we asked for early access to the vaccination programme for funeral directors as an essential service earlier this year, we were denied."
The ministry cited limited community transmission and the fact that funeral directors were not deemed to be an essential health service.
"This means that the number of funeral directors available who are now fully vaccinated is limited," Moger said.
"We are trying to assess what impact that delay will have had on today's announcement."
The association believed funeral directors should be regarded as an essential health service and has renewed that call to the Government this morning, he added.
Families who want to view their deceased loved one under level 4 must:
- be from the same bubble as the tūpāpaku
- wear masks inside the funeral home and maintain physical distancing
- not touch the tūpāpaku
- not have symptoms of Covid-19
- not be waiting for a Covid-19 test
- not be required to be in isolation or be under a Section 70 Order.
The tūpāpaku may not be moved from the funeral home for viewing purposes.