Funeral Industry News

  • COVID-19: Certification Update

    24th September 2021 by

    Mandatory vaccine certification will be introduced in regulations under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and supported by guidance. The scheme will come into force on Friday 1 October (from 5 am) onwards, until further notice. The scheme will apply in the following higher risk settings: late night venues with music, alcohol and dancing live events: indoors...

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  • COVID-19 BOOSTER PROGRAMME UPDATE

    22nd September 2021 by

    From Tuesday 21 September frontline health and social care workers, including frontline funeral operatives, are able to book an appointment for a COVID-19 booster vaccine, online at NHS Inform. The booster programme is to prolong protection against severe COVID-19 illness and will run alongside the flu vaccination programme. Wherever possible, eligible people will be offered...

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  • Coronvirus: Baseline Protection Measures Remain In Place

    1st September 2021 by

    The Scottish Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): Staying safe and protecting others guidance is available to view here. This guidance came into force on Monday, 9 August and has since been updated to include a section on funerals and life events. While many restrictions have been lifted, some baseline measures remain in place which are extremely important to...

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  • Coronavirus: Compensation for Self Isolation Bill 2022

    30th August 2021 by

    On 07 August 2021, the Scottish Government launched a 4 week public consultation “Coronavirus (Compensation for Self-isolation) Bill 2022” which runs until 24 September 2021.  We are very grateful for your input and engagement in this consultation. For further details about the consultation, please see the consultation paper or the Scottish Government’s launch on Twitter. Should you have any...

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  • COVID-19: 12 Week Consultation on Covid Recovery

    17th August 2021 by

    The Scottish Government has launched a 12 week public consultation “Covid recovery: a consultation on public health, public services and justice system reforms” which runs until 9 November 2021.  The funeral sector have a particular interest in the provisions regarding remote registration of deaths and still-births and we would encourage you to respond to the consultation...

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  • COVID-19: Guidance update

    6th August 2021 by

    The Scottish Government’s ‘beyond level 0’ guidance has now been published and is available to view here. This guidance will come into force on Monday, 9 August. Until then, the current funeral-related guidance should be followed. Collecting contact details for Test and Protect remains strongly advised – this measure forms part of the national effort...

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  • COVID-19: Guidance Update and Move to ‘Beyond level 0’ on 9 August

    4th August 2021 by

    Yesterday, 3 August 2021, the First Minister announced  that all of Scotland will move beyond level 0 on 9 August, and advised on the continued use of protective measures. The restrictions easing from 9 August 2021 which the funeral sector will wish to be aware of specifically are: The legal requirement for physical distancing restrictions...

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  • Emergency Legislation Update

    20th July 2021 by

    The UK Coronavirus Act 2020 allows Scottish Ministers to suspend the effect of certain provisions in the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019. On 8 April 2020, the Scottish Ministers published determinations under the UK Coronavirus Act 2020, which had implications for applications for cremation and the handling of...

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  • First Minister announces further easing of restrictions from 19 July 2021.

    14th July 2021 by

    Yesterday (13 July 2021) the First Minister of Scotland announced that all of Scotland will move to a slightly modified Protection Level 0 on 19 July 2021. The easings from 19 July 2021 which the funeral sector will wish to be aware of specifically are: Up to 200 people will be able to attend funeral...

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  • COVID-19: Those attending funerals for the purpose of work are not included in the maximum permitted numbers at funerals

    7th July 2021 by

    The maximum attendance limit for funeral services and post-funeral gatherings is set out in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) protection levels. Those maximum limits are: Level 4 – funeral services 20; no post-funeral gatherings Level 3 – funeral services 50; post-funeral gatherings 50 Level 2 – funeral services 50; post-funeral gatherings 50 Level 1 – funeral services...

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