Mainland Scotland and some islands are now in lockdown with guidance to stay at home, except for essential pur poses. No, people should not travel into or out of a level three area for holidays or visits. For recording ceremonies, a phone which has sufficient storage will work fine. The Embassy says it cannot give a yes or no answer as to whether travel into France for the funeral of a close family member would be allowed as every situation is different. Funerals are exempt … should be followed. As the initial shock of lockdown measures subsides, reality begins to set in - particularly for families affected by those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus. In Scotland up to 20 people can attend, and in Wales and Northern Ireland, each venue can decide on the number of people who can attend. People travelling from abroad to attend a funeral service in Scotland must familiarise themselves with the rules on international travel and managed isolation for entering Scotland. My vaccine side effects and what they mean. Police officers are stopping and fining people who try to drive into Scotland from England. out more about cookies, Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to know. Updated section on post-funeral gatherings. Can I get on a ferry in the North on compassionate grounds, is there any point if I cannot stay anywhere in Scotland or attend funeral etc. In particular, see the sections on private hire vehicles and car sharing. We drove from England to Scotland last Tuesday for my Grandma's funeral and weren't pulled over. Your feedback will help us improve this site, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for funeral services, People travelling from abroad to attend a funeral service in Scotland must familiarise themselves with the rules on, If you are planning to travel abroad for a funeral, check the, Wherever possible, funeral service attendees should travel to the venue in a car by themselves or with people from their household group. Each UK country may have different rules for funerals. In levels 0, 1, 2 and 3, you can also hold a wake in a regulated venue, like a hotel. A delayed gathering also means that those who are overseas may well be able to travel from abroad easily, which many people can't do at the moment. Are the US and China in a new 'Cold War'? Updated to reflect latest changes to protection levels. You can find more information on visiting Scotland during the Covid-19 recovery phases. His brother Hugh lives in California and is not able to attend the funeral because of travel restrictions. Several restrictions have been placed on funerals to minimise further spread of the illness, which presents grieving families with a challenging new set of circumstances. Read about our approach to external linking. In particular, see the sections on private hire vehicles and car sharing. VideoThe scars left by a school bombing, 'Women need to hear ‘you are not alone’' Video'Women need to hear ‘you are not alone’', How 'Auntie Deb' made Native American history. Only funerals, stone settings and ash gatherings may resume during the latest national lockdown. Again, make sure you keep lines of communication open with your funeral director and celebrant - they can most probably offer advice, as video-conferencing at funerals, weddings and other occasions has been popular for some time. If this is not possible and funeral transport (e.g. "When Danny is put to rest it is just going to be his immediate family," Hugh says. provision of cars or limousines) is required or chosen then the advice from Transport Scotland on how to travel safely should be followed. The 20 person maximum includes children of all ages. However, you shouldn't attend a funeral if you’re displaying any symptoms of coronavirus. Funerals are allowed with strict limits on attendance, and must only take place in COVID-secure venues or in public outdoor spaces unless in exceptional circumstances. Who truly was the most dishonest president? Danny Cairns, from Greenock, was one of the first victims of the coronavirus in Scotland. We also use non-essential cookies to help us improve our websites. "He wasn't just my brother he was my best friend," he says. In Wales, funerals can take place but with limited numbers, and no wakes can be held. Just the same as Wales, Scotland and England, travelling abroad without a reasonable excuse is not allowed in Northern Ireland. Also - if you are arranging a funeral, you may well be able to make arrangements with the parties involved through video technology. This guidance explains what restrictions are currently in place for funeral services and wider public health guidance relevant for funeral services. This lets the people organising the funeral know how many people are coming so they can stay within the rules. Gov.scot uses cookies which are essential for the site to work. The government says you can go to a funeral if you are attending a funeral of a member in your household, a close family member - or if you are a friend of somebody who has died and will not have any family at the service. Updated to reflect introduction of lockdown on 5 January 2021. If this is not possible and funeral transport (e.g. Can you go to a funeral during lockdown? Funeral directors are being told to handle the limiting of attendees "sensitively", and to take into account individual circumstances. This includes commemorative events such as scattering ashes or stone setting. Upload larger files from your phone on to cloud-based platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox beforehand, so that you don't run out of storage half-way through. Yes, but funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people in Tier 4. In level 4, wakes and other post funeral gatherings are not allowed. Crematoriums remain open for funeral services only. Yes, under the new national restrictions, you can still attend a funeral or a linked ceremonial event, such as a wake, stone setting, or the sprinkling of someone's ashes. You can only go to a funeral if you have been invited. In the guidance, it is suggested that funerals can be live streamed from the graveside to loved ones who are not able to attend. Video, 'Women need to hear ‘you are not alone’' Video, 'Women need to hear ‘you are not alone’', Piers Morgan complaints break Ofcom record, NHS warns of 'significant reduction' in vaccines, Biden's pet is ‘out of the dog house’, Brazil health service in its 'worst crisis ever', China's online 'skinny fad' sparks body image concern, EU plans rollout of Covid travel form by summer, Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on jet downing, Restricted funerals 'heartbreaking' to conduct says celebrant, Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health. In England up to 30 people can attend the funeral, as long as the venue can ensure social-distancing can be maintained. How many people can attend depends on what protection level applies to the area. © 2021 BBC. People can also travel to and from other parts of the UK to go to a funeral service. That means a clamp-down on when you should leave the house, and you need to ask yourself if you have a "reasonable excuse". Funeral directors, burial plots, crematoriums, how to arrange a funeral, funeral costs. (subject to individual business COVID-secure practices) Attending a funeral is considered a reasonable excuse to leave home and hotels may provide accommodation to mourners to enable them to travel to attend a funeral. Virtually all public gatherings have been outlawed, with the exception of funerals, and only certain people are allowed to attend, under certain sets of circumstances. In every country, you can only go to a … Social distancing will still apply in the location where the funeral is taking place, so make sure to remember the rules around contact and hygiene. You can travel between council areas and protection levels to go to a funeral. The gov.uk website states that from 6 January, funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people. In Wales and Scotland, wakes and post-funeral gatherings are not permitted at this time. By Nick SheridanConsumer Affairs Correspondent. You will also be expected to use hand-wash before and after, and cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm. Find Updated the international travel section and added information about viewing in family homes. Investigators say the suspect admitted to the attack, but denied that he was motivated by racism. out more about cookies, international travel and managed isolation for entering Scotland, Transport Scotland on how to travel safely. In six months, these regulations will expire and the government will need to decide whether or not it will need to extend the restrictions. There isn’t a legal limit in place to how far you can go, but she advised Scots to “use your good judgement.” Read More Related Articles. All charitable donations to the family, or to their chosen organisation, should be made online. Funeral homes can remain open to facilitate funeral arrangements, visits to chapels of rest etc. People in Scotland are are also being told that it is illegal to drive to England or other parts of the UK for anything other than essential purposes.