Lampman Funeral Home

Registrar’s Directive:

Funeral homes and transfer services must implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy

As of Sept. 22: Funeral services (including visitations) are part of the Government of Ontario’s ‘vaccine passport’ requirement if held indoors. This includes funeral services at funeral homes, cemeteries and crematoriums – if held indoors.

Requirements do not apply to religious facilities such as churches, mosques, synagogues…etc….

From Sept. 22 to Oct. 12, 2021, guests may attend an indoor funeral if they have proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid test taken with 48 hours preceding the funeral.

After Oct. 12, 2021, all attendees must show proof of vaccination or written proof of a medical exemption from a doctor or nurse.
There are no other exemptions for people attending funerals— except for those presenting written proof of a medical exemption from a doctor or nurse, and children under the age of 12.

These measures do not apply to outdoor funerals.

You must apply this Registrar’s Directive in your funeral establishment or transfer service vaccination policy.

In these changing times, stay tuned for updates!

Registrar’s Directive:
Province-wide cemetery gathering limits

The Government of Ontario has announced new gathering limits for the entire province. To ensure safety and minimize potential spread of COVID-19, this Registrar’s Directive extends the restrictions for gatherings at cemeteries to the entire Province, effective Monday, Sept. 21.

Maximum at cemeteries
Until further notice, all cemeteries in Ontario must limit attendance to a maximum of 25 people (not counting staff) at all gatherings, attendances, funerals, visitations, funeral receptions, and graveside services, subject to the following exception.

Exception
Outdoor funeral services (visitations, receptions and graveside services) up to a maximum of 100 attendees may still take place at a cemetery or funeral home’s property, providing:
a. The service is under the control and direction of a funeral director
b. The service has the consent of the cemetery operator for numbers over 25
c. Funeral directors have one staff member for every 10 attendees to properly manage the gathering and ensure physical distancing is maintained
d. Guests are registered/logged to enable contact tracing

Cemeteries are expected to control access to their property. Cemeteries are permitted to restrict attendance numbers to less than the maximum. (Funeral professionals should confirm these restrictions in advance of services and advise families accordingly.)

Advertise
Funeral establishments must advertise that attendance may be restricted whenever they publish death notices or obituaries that refer to any part of a service occurring at a cemetery including interment.

Funeral homes
Funeral homes will continue to follow the existing capacity directives for indoor funeral services, which are:
• Indoor funeral services, visitations and receptions are limited to 30 per cent of the capacity of the room, while maintaining two-metre physical distancing between attendees. This applies to people gathering indoors for religious services, rites or ceremonies. Funeral establishments must ensure there is one staff member for every 10 guests.
Thank you for your cooperation in these efforts to keep families and your staff safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

-Carey Smith, CEO/Registrar, BAO