Update from Mears Family Funerals 14th December 2021

Update from Mears Family Funerals

We are here to help

On Friday 10 December 2021, the Government moved to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant. 

As we have done so since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, we strive to provide our funeral services as normal, but always in line with Government advice to protect the health and safety of the families we serve and our members of staff. As a result of moving to Plan B we will be making the following changes with immediate effect:

• You will be required to wear a mask when visiting our branches, unless you are exempt. Our staff may wear a mask at their discretion or should you ask them to do so (unless they are exempt). Hand sanitiser is available at all our branches.
  
• Our limousines will continue to carry up to six mourners from any number of different households but mourners will be required to wear a mask (unless exempt). Hand sanitiser will be made available when entering the vehicle. Our drivers may wear a mask at their discretion.
  
• We ask that families make an appointment in advance to arrange a funeral or  visit a loved one in our chapel of rests.
  

A brief summary of what the Government's  Plan B means is below:

From 10 December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings.

From 13 December, office workers who can work from home should do so.

From 15 December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours, or have an exemption.

Wear a face covering

From 10 December, there will be a legal requirement to wear face coverings in most indoor public places and on public transport, including taxis. Exemptions currently apply in the following settings:

• Restaurants, cafés and canteens
• Bars and shisha bars
• Gyms and exercise facilities
• Photography studios
• Nightclubs, dance halls and discotheques

Government guidance currently accepts that wearing a face covering in hospitality settings such as cafés, restaurants and pubs is not realistic because it is not practical to keep removing face coverings to eat or drink.

Face coverings are also deemed to be impractical in nightclubs and other night-time venues, including dance halls and discotheques because it is not recommended that you wear a face covering while exercising or during strenuous physical activity, which includes dancing.

It is recommended that people should choose to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where it is possible that you will have contact with other people that you do not normally meet.

Work from home if you can

From Monday 13 December, the government is recommending that “Office workers who can work from home should do so. Anyone who cannot work from home should continue to go into work - for example, to access equipment necessary for their role or where their role must be completed in person. In-person working will be necessary in some cases to continue the effective and accessible delivery of some public services and private industries. If you need to continue to go into work, consider taking lateral flow tests regularly to manage your own risk and the risk to others”.

Required use of the NHS COVID Pass

From 15 December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors aged 18 years or over are either:

• fully vaccinated (currently a full course of vaccination without the need for a booster, but this will be kept under review),
• have proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours, or,
• have an exemption.

Businesses/Organisations can obtain an NHS COVID Pass verifier to check the COVID pass of visitors by downloading the COVID pass verifier app for use on mobile devices and will be able to scan codes presented by visitors in digital form (via the COVID pass app) or visitors can show an email or text as proof of one of the above 3 requirements to gain access to venues.

The use of the NHS COVID Pass will be required as a condition of entry into the following places:

• nightclubs, dancehalls and discotheques;
• other late night dance venues. (These are any other venues that are: open between 1am and 5am; serve alcohol during this time; have a dancefloor (or designated space for dancing); and provide music, whether live or recorded, for dancing).
• indoor events with 500 or more unseated attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as music venues with standing audiences or large receptions;
• outdoor events with 4,000 or more unseated attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as outdoor festivals; and
• any events with 10,000 or more attendees indoor or outdoor, such as large sports and music events

Some settings that will be exempt from requirements to use the NHS COVID Pass including: communal worship, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other commemorative events, protests, and mass participation sporting events.

Please rest assured that my team and I are here to help you and we remain available 24 hours a day - if you require any assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Lisa McDermott 

Managing Director

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