Potentially coming into contact with Covid-19 on a daily basis through their work, funeral directors are seeking clarity from the Department of Health and the HSE on where they fall in terms of the priority list for the vaccine.
The latest figures from the CSO show that there s been 37 Covid related deaths since the pandemic began. That s 37 families that still need to organise a fitting farewell to their loved ones and require the services of the local undertaker. Funeral Director Donnacha Kerins who works with Crosbie s Undertakers in Enniscorthy explains his concerns. Strangely enough, it s not the likes of nursing homes etc where you know that you re dealing with somebody who has passed away with Covid that s the biggest concern, he said. In those instances, we re wearing full PPE and following all the protocols. The difficulty arises when you re called to a house where there s been a sudden death and nobody knows for sure if Covid was a factor or not.
A small number of funeral homes have been breaching HSE guidelines by embalming people who died from Covid-19 and allowing an open coffin at wakes, it has emerged.
The Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) sent out an alert reminding its members to abide by the rules given the increased number of deaths from Covid-19.
In an email to members, president Donal Forde said: “It has come to the attention of the IAFD that some members have not been following these guidelines and that embalming of Covid-19 cases has taken place and viewings have been facilitated.
“I am appealing to all of our members to consider their own safety and that of their staff and clients and to always follow the HSE guidelines. I remind our members that to not follow these guidelines is in breach of the IAFD code of practice, which all members have committed to follow”.
Funeral directors should get the coronavirus vaccine alongside nurses, doctors and other frontline workers, a representative group has said.The Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) wrote last