- Legal limit on numbers of mourners at funerals to be removed
in England at Step 3 of the Roadmap
- Venues such as places of worship to set limits based on
individual capacity
- All organisers must continue to be Covid secure and follow
social distancing rules
Families and friends will shortly be able to pay their respects
to loved ones in greater numbers, with numerical limits on
funerals to be removed.
After careful consideration, the legal limit of 30 mourners will
be removed as part of Step 3 of the roadmap, to take place from
17 May at the earliest. As the Prime Minister has said, the
current data does not suggest any need to alter the dates at
which restrictions will next be eased.
Instead, the number of people who can attend a funeral will be
determined by how many people the venue such as the relevant
place of worship or funeral home, can safely accommodate with
social distancing. This includes both indoor and outdoor venues.
Capacities of venues will vary, but many will allow significantly
more than 30 people to attend.
Limits for other life or commemorative events at Step 3, such as
weddings and wakes, are expected to remain as set out in the
roadmap.
Following Step 2 on 12 April, hospital admissions and cases of
severe illness are in line with modelling provided by scientific
experts, both when the roadmap was first published and ahead of
step 2.
Boosted by a successful vaccination rollout, with over 48 million
doses given, the public’s efforts to suppress the virus are
working.
Communities Secretary said:
“The British people have made huge sacrifices throughout the
pandemic to protect the NHS and save lives, and nowhere is that
more apparent than in the deeply painful restrictions on the
numbers attending funerals.
“Losing a loved one has been incredibly hard during the pandemic
and I am pleased we are now in a position, thanks to everyone’s
continued efforts and the rollout of the vaccine, to remove these
limits and allow more friends and family to come together and pay
their respects.
“I look forward to working with faith leaders responsible for
places of worship, and those who manage venues such as funeral
homes, to introduce the new arrangements in a way that continues
to keep people safe.”
