MOURNERS attending funerals in Cheshire East are being asked to follow new guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cheshire East Council said new measures were in place for funerals to reduce the risks associated with the virus for funeral service staff and mourners, taking account of new measures implemented by the government and the Coronavirus Act.

The council is following new guidelines around mourners attending funerals, who should be members of the person’s household, close family members or if these people are unable to attend, close friends and a celebrant of choice should attend if the bereaved family requests this.

In line with social distancing measures, seating in chapels has been spaced out and mourners are asked that only those who live in the same household sit in the same row of seats. Additional measures include the following:

Services have been reduced in length to allow time to clean in between services.

There are automated hand sanitiser dispensers at the entrance to both crematorium chapels, and visitors are asked to make use of them before entering.

Online bookings have been temporarily removed to allow the council to better respond to the demands on the service over the coming weeks.

No further bookings will be taken for interments, placements and witnessed scatterings of ashes. All bookings made up to March 25 will be honoured, within the restrictions and government guidance in place.

Cllr Jill Rhodes, cabinet member with responsibility for bereavement services, said: “We understand that any bereavement is an extremely difficult time for family and close friends.

“At the moment, we are facing the added challenging circumstances that the coronavirus outbreak is bringing.

“We are working with Orbitas Bereavement Services, a Cheshire East Council wholly-owned company, to do all we can within current government guidelines to ensure we can continue to give loved ones a fitting send-off.

“We advise that people who are extremely clinically vulnerable (shielded) attend services with measures put in place to reduce their risk.

“People self-isolating, because someone in their household is ill, may attend if they do not have symptoms themselves and those who have symptoms of coronavirus must not attend and must stay at home.

“I would like to thank all staff in the bereavement services teams and the funeral directors, who are still working hard to serve families across Cheshire East during this challenging time.”