From next Monday (27 July) new Track and Trace arrangements will be place at Carlisle’s Cemeteries and Crematorium.
Following changes in government guidance, Carlisle City Council is advising local funeral directors that the council’s Bereavement Services is now required to keep a record of all funeral attendees for 21 days. Funeral Directors will be required to complete a Track and Trace form on behalf of funeral attendees.
The following arrangements will also be in place from next week:
- The Crematorium toilets will reopen with signage indicating access points and social distancing measures. Access will be via the door adjacent to the Book of Remembrance along the side of the building before a funeral or after a funeral service on exiting the chapel.
- Witnessed interments of cremated remains will restart both in the cemeteries and the crematorium grounds. Appointments will be restricted to three a day in both the grounds and the cemeteries. The maximum number of attendees will be restricted to 10 family members and friends and all appointments are subject to staff availability and availability between coffined burials.
- Witnessed scattering of cremated remains in the crematorium woods can be carried out without date restrictions and the maximum number of attendees will be restricted to 10 family members and friends.
The recent updates follow the changes on Monday 6 July. The following arrangements are also now in place:
- The maximum number of mourners that can attend funeral services at the crematorium has increased from 12 to 24 (social distancing will still exist in the chapel except for families from the same household). Further chairs have been added to accommodate the increased numbers.
- The cemetery chapels have re-opened allowing funerals to take place prior to interment at graveside (again with a maximum of 24 mourners).
- Places of Worship have re-opened this will allow for “Committal” services both at the crematorium and at graveside to restart.
- Memorial Masons are allowed to carry out new installations, additional inscriptions and replacement headstones with suitable PPE and social distancing measures.
The following arrangements continue:
- The funeral times are still restricted to 20 minutes to allow the crematorium chapel to be cleaned between each and every funeral.
- The office reception and the Book of Remembrance remain closed to the public.
- Please only visit the Crematorium and Cemetery sites if your visit is essential and you must follow the Government’s rules to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Do not visit a Cemetery or the Crematorium if you have any coronavirus symptoms. See NHS guidelines if this applies to you.
