COVID-19 MESSAGE

A COVID-19 Message.,

The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has been receiving regular updates from state and federal agencies, ensuring that the information we here at Bermingham Funeral Home receive is as current and relevant as possible.

Given the reality and uncertainty of COVID-19, it is important to know that funeral directors throughout New Jersey are taking precautions to limit exposure to the virus.  We remain available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making certain that the families we serve are receiving uninterrupted service and attention, regardless of the cause or manner of death.

Please know that we are committed to those who call upon us and will remain focused on serving both the living and the dead with the health and well-being of our communities in mind.  We take this situation seriously and as your neighbor will work through this together.

Effective 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2020 all funeral homes are operating under newly issued Executive Order #107.

There are no embalming or final disposition method restrictions in place at this time. Burial, cremation, entombment, and donation are all permissible. Decedents should not be stored or held for future memorialization. Again, removal, preparation and disposition should take place in the most timely and efficient manner possible with all public memorial events, ceremony and services postponed until this order is lifted. Every funeral home is requested to creatively assist families through their grief that has been compounded by these necessary restrictions.

Funeral home staff may continue to operate under this order and next-of-kin, those not subject to quarantine, may make arrangements at their residence or by phone and email.

Please understand that we are at the start of a new norm, a norm estimated to last eight weeks, and so we do not fully know when the true surge of COVID-19 spread will be felt in each of our lives.

Because the primary concern remains with the living, not the dead, we continue to properly disinfect all public, common room surfaces such as doorknobs, switch plates, stair rails, phones, steering wheels, tables, counter-tops and the like.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

With today’s announcement by the Governor immediately and incrementally beginning to lift restrictions on indoor gatherings, funeral homes are now able to expand funeral services in both the funeral home and places of worship, provided there are no more than 50 individuals gathered at a time or 25% of the room capacity (whichever is less).

Masks or face coverings must be worn at all times by funeral home staff, family members and visitors.

Six-foot distances must be maintained at all times between groups of people from the same household and any other groups/individuals.

The NJSFDA recommends as best practices that:

Only one family gathering occur in the funeral home during any time period.
Viewing room seating be reconfigured to underestimate total occupancy even when social distancing practices are implemented.
Hand sanitizer be made available and its use recommended at the entry and exit (when different) of the funeral home.
Funeral homes continuously manage the entrance/exit of attendees during visitations when practical or necessary.

We will all get through this unprecedented event together. Be safe.

Thank you,

Stephen A. Christie and the Staff of Bermingham Funeral Home

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