Face Masks Mandatory At Funerals

Although wearing a face mask isn’t required under public health rules in Chatham-Kent, the same does not apply to those attending a funeral.

Under regulations from the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, wearing masks or face coverings at any indoor funeral service is mandatory.

James MacNeil, co-owner of Chatham-Kent-based Life Transitions, says while it can make a difficult situation that much harder, it’s for everyone’s safety.

“Mainly they’re saying any mass gathering, anything within the context of a funeral, there’s going to be a real difficulty enforcing physical distancing because people are grieving,” MacNeil says. “They’re just acknowledging this is very difficult to not to have people comforting one another, consoling one another, and therefore let’s just go ahead with mandatory masks.”

The mask regulations don’t extend to outdoor events, like grave-side services.

MacNeil says anyone who refuses to wear a mask to an indoor funeral service will be asked to leave.

The full statement from the Bereavement Authority of Ontario:

Further to the Registrar’s Guidance issued on June 15, 2020, wearing masks or face coverings is MANDATORY for all persons (funeral staff and attendees) inside all funeral establishments or any other indoor setting where a funeral or visitation is held in the following Ontario Health Unit jurisdictions: