BAO Directive : funeral  attendance changes

Ontario Government COVID-19 regulations effective on June 11, 2021 

For the full Province of Ontario release of the updated laws/regulations please visit the BAO at : BAO

Registrar’s Directive: Funeral services– Maximum of 15% to max of 50 attendees indoors –  2 metres distancing to max of 50 attendees outdoors

The measures of physical distancing of two metres between people, wearing of masks indoors and outdoors, and cleaning and disinfecting of facilities between services remain in place. Serving food is prohibited at all funerals and visitations.

This Registrar’s Directive applies to funerals and visitations regardless of the venue.

BAO inspectors will be monitoring funeral establishments and cemeteries to ensure compliance, with swift measures invoked for non-compliance.

The BAO (Bereavement Authority of Ontario), our governing body, continues to act in order to minimize the risk of infection to families and staff of funeral homes.

Funeral services and visitations have new restrictions starting Friday, June 11, 2021:
Indoors – Maximum of 15 per cent capacity of a particular room to a maximum of 50 attendees in the entire facility.  Outdoors – Two metres physical distancing to a maximum of 50 attendees.  The restrictions are part of the Government of Ontario’s Step One announcement, and have additional restrictions.

The new maximum at any indoor or outdoor funeral service, including visitations, is 50 attendees. Funeral and cemetery staff do not count in the maximum of 50 attendees but staffing ratios will apply.  Funeral and cemetery staff will coordinate to maintain a staff ratio of: 
One staff member for every 10 attendees to a maximum requirement of four staff members for 50 attendees.

This Registrar’s Directive also includes these restrictions: 
All visitations must be scheduled Minimum of 15 minutes between scheduled indoor visitations for cleaning.  Guests must sign in.  No lining up or cycling of attendees.  Masks or face coverings continue to be required at all funeral services and visitations.  Two metres (six feet) of physical distancing. 

This province-wide Registrar’s Directive applies to all funeral services, regardless of the venue. The intention going forward is to phase-in increases in attendance numbers and fewer requirements as part of the Government of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen. The province will remain in Step One for 21 days to evaluate any impacts on key public health and health system indicators. As indicators improve, the government will announce whether the province will move to Step Two of its reopening plan.

INDOOR OR OUTDOOR FUNERALS & VISITATIONS

• The Funeral Director is responsible for all family and visitors and their adherence to all current measures in government law/restrictions, BAO directives
• The Funeral Director must STOP all funeral or visitations where adherence to current laws and restrictions is not being followed
• FACE COVERINGS  are MANDATORY to enter any funeral home or place of worship where a funeral service is taking place (all attendees must supply their own face covering)
• ALL attendees must remain at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart from each other and from persons conducting the funeral, unless they are members of the same household
• For every 10 people in attendance, there must be at least one funeral home staff member to monitor and ensure physical distancing and all other laws/regulations
• Live streaming of services and gatherings, held in our funeral homes, is available for larger groups so that everyone can view and leave condolences for the family
• NEW - streaming of services is now available for graveside services or services held off-site at a place of worship or hall.
• If service is in a place of worship, the same rules apply.  
• Every person in attendance is required to be logged in for contact tracing purposes
• Hand sanitizer must be provided for visitors
• Persons conducting the funeral must ensure that it is conducted in accordance with recommendations and instructions of public health officials
• All spaces, including washrooms, are required to be cleaned and disinfected on a continuous basis by dedicated staff for this purpose
• Once number of attendees is reached, doors to place of service will be locked and remain shut until the conclusion of the service
• If number of attendees exceeds the number allowed, the exceeding persons cannot congregate outside of their vehicles.  They must remain in their vehicles

CEMETERY

• Attendee numbers are limited by the cemetery and number of funeral home staff available. (ONLY if all conditions of above are met). 
• For every 10 people in attendance, there must be at least one funeral home staff member to monitor and ensure physical distancing and all other laws/regulations
• The Funeral Director is responsible for all family and visitors and their adherence to all current measures in government law/restrictions, BAO directives
• The Funeral Director must STOP all graveside services/interments where adherence to current laws and restrictions is not being followed
• FACE COVERINGS  are MANDATORY at all cemeteries where a graveside service/interment is taking place – No face covering – No entrance (all attendees must supply their own face covering)
• ALL attendees must remain at least 2 metres (6 feet) apart from each other and from persons conducting the funeral, unless they are members of the same household

At this time funeral home doors remain locked to assist with the control and implementation of Provincial Government laws.  If attending to the funeral home outside of regularly scheduled visitations or services please call the office phone number as posted at the front door.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

If we all work together to flatten the curve

We will all come out of this quicker

Options during these times of social distancing and grieving:
• grief does not wait until the pandemic is over

• options are available to include everyone : family, friends, neighbours & co-workers

You can have:

• Cremation or burial now and Celebration of Life at a later date

• private family viewing, visitation or service now with a public gathering at a later date

• Live-streaming will allow family, friends, neighbours and co-workers to view each service live in real-time (also available after the service is over), upload pictures, sign a guest book and share memories in real-time. After the family has given authorization each service will have their own unique link and will be available on each individual obituary page of our website. Click on the link, register and you will be included in the live-stream.

NEW - streaming is now available for services that are not held in the funeral home.  Whether the service is at graveside, in a place of worship or a hall we can record and upload the service for all your familiy and friends to view.

• when we physically can’t be together, express your condolences on our website or email to the funeral home so the family feels your support

• friends & family can email messages of support to the funeral home or leave them on our website to be read during the livestream service and as a permanent remembrance for the family

We are here to help you through this difficult time in a way to assist your family while keeping the health of everyone in mind.

 As always, we are here to help families iin the safest way possible for all cremation & burial arrangements

Other safeguards we are implementing:
- frequent cleaning and disinfecting of all surfaces within our facility
- limiting physical contact and space
- register book pens will be changed out and cleaned frequently

- antibacterial dispensers at the front door and throughout the funeral home
- washrooms are closed for family use only or emergencies

We all have a key role to play in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and ask everyone to think ahead about the actions they take to stay healthy and PLEASE if you are sick or feel un-well, stay home until you are well again.

We are available 24hours if a death occurs, you need assistance or have any questions.

Logan Funeral Home  :  (519) 433-6181  loganfuneralhome@execulink.com

Evans Funeral Home  :  (519) 451-9350  evansfuneralhome@execulink.com

You can stay up to date by visiting our facebook page for Evans and Logan Funeral Homes

Sincerely,

Dave Pizzey, Cassi Mask-Wildman, Jack Frank, Ben O’Grady, Alanna Smith-Morton and all the staff of the Logan Funeral Home & Evans Funeral Home

VIRTUAL  TOUR

Please visit our Google Street View tour for the

 LOGAN FUNERAL  HOME

and the

EVANS FUNERAL HOME

live on Google