Outbreaks linked to funerals.

political analyst · 15-11-2020 06:07PM #1

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1115/1178244-covid-ireland-latest/

Dr Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer, said the average daily five-day case count "is rising and is now over 400 per day".

"This is a worrying development which has persisted for the last few days," he said.

"We are seeing a number of things which concern us. There are examples of small numbers of people congregating for social purposes and simply ignoring the important public health messages. They are putting our collective progress at risk.

"We are also seeing number of outbreaks across the country. These include outbreaks in association with funerals. We understand that this is a difficult time for families but it is really important that we do everything we can to avoid the circumstances which promote transmission of the virus," said Dr Holohan.

Why didn't those who officiate at funerals (priests in most cases) instruct mourners to maintain distancing among themselves?

daheff · 15-11-2020 06:09PM

political analyst wrote: »

Why didn't those who officiate at funerals (priests in most cases) instruct mourners to maintain distancing among themselves?

Not their responsibility to do this?

People at the funerals are (in general) adults and should be obeying the guidance.

Mike3549 · 15-11-2020 06:15PM

Maybe they did, but they cant control what happens after the funeral.
Also title should be named "outbreaks linked to funerals"

s1ippy · 15-11-2020 06:16PM

I was at a funeral the other day and there was communion given out at the mass. WTAF.

gipi · 15-11-2020 06:24PM

In my area, the churches in the main are controlling the numbers entering the church for a funeral mass.

But nobody can control the numbers congregating outside, following the cortege to the cemetery, or commiserating with family at the graveside - the funeral directors can only issue so many announcements asking people to observe the 2m distance.

Add in those who insist that their dearly departed is waked at home, and it's easy to see how an outbreak could occur.

There have been anecdotal reports of post-funeral gatherings behind closed doors of pubs/restaurants, I can't quote anything official though.

The numbers attending funerals in my area are increasing, even if they don't go to the mass itself.

iamwhoiam · 15-11-2020 06:27PM

Heard only yesterday about a funeral in west Cork with a large marquee and caterers
That has nothing at all to do with the priest

igCorcaigh · 15-11-2020 06:27PM

Mike3549 wrote: »

Maybe they did, but they cant control what happens after the funeral.
Also title should be named "outbreaks linked to funerals"

Yeah, I'm thinking it might be indoor gatherings associated with the funeral?

MintyMagnum · 15-11-2020 06:33PM

How many are officially allowed at a funeral now?

Beasty · 15-11-2020 06:35PM

Mike3549 wrote: »

Maybe they did, but they cant control what happens after the funeral.
Also title should be named "outbreaks linked to funerals"

Agreed - just changed it

fly_agaric · 15-11-2020 06:39PM

MintyMagnum wrote: »

How many are officially allowed at a funeral now?

25 according to this.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/#funerals

If all (or even 1/2) coming from a few different families spend time before/after the funeral in a house together its probably not great. They won't be out in the garden in this weather (!) and there is nowhere open for them to congregate.

3d4life · 15-11-2020 06:45PM

It was always said that one funeral leads to another...:(

On a brighter note I believe its allowed to travel beyond your 5kM zone to visit a grave.

JP Liz V1 · 15-11-2020 06:54PM

MintyMagnum wrote: »

How many are officially allowed at a funeral now?

I think 25 or was it increased to 50 same as weddings

Minier81 · 15-11-2020 07:27PM

Its is 25.

I know someone who went to a funeral in level5 planning to just stand outside and the funeral director went around ushering all the outside mourners inside. He was saying it a a fine big church, plenty of space to spread out. About 90 inside for the funeral mass. Crazy stuff.

15-11-2020 07:49PM

political analyst wrote:

Why didn't those who officiate at funerals (priests in most cases) instruct mourners to maintain distancing among themselves?

Last week I pass a funeral procession in Dublin South. Three limmos followed the hearse. These were in turn followed by 10 or more vehicles. So that's 18 in the limmos and at least 10 in cars following but that could be 20 or 30 in cars. Maximum for funerals is 25 at the moment. What floored my was the fact that this funeral was escorted by 3 motorbike Gardai. They leapfrogged each other to rush to the next set of lights to stop traffic.

I understand families stretching the limit but was very disappointed to see that the Gardai were encouraging it in the middle of level 5. We buried my father in law last May (Covid19 victim) with only 10 in attendance because of the regulations.

440Hertz · 15-11-2020 07:53PM

The attitude is all about exceptionalism and it's the same in the US and around Europe.

Whatever about funerals, which I can fully understand are highly emotionally charged and often quite difficult, but there are happier events that are still being pushed like weddings. I mean would it really be THAT much of an inconvenience to say get married this year in a small ceremony and throw a post-covid wedding party in 2022 or something when it's safe again to do so?

There are loads of things that could be copped onto. I think chasing funerals, unless they're really ludicrous stuff, is somewhat counterproductive.

The ludicrous stuff = having a big mad pissup after the funeral, which is a big part of funerals in Ireland (and the US and quite a few other places). I'd be a bit concerned that our regulations are taking the dour English approach to funerals as the norm, which absolutely isn't the case here.

StupidLikeAFox · 15-11-2020 07:56PM

s1ippy wrote: »

I was at a funeral the other day and there was communion given out at the mass. WTAF.

Was at a funeral in august - 25 in the church, speakers in the carpark for large crowd but all socially distanced. When it came to the communion the came out into the car park and people actually lined up to get communion. Mad stuff

hmmm · 15-11-2020 08:30PM

It's very hard at a funeral when you have that gob****e who insists on going around hugging and kissing everyone. I've seen it myself - a small number inside and everything reasonably good, but then you go outside and the usual suspects ("ah sure that Covid thing is only an ould flu") coming in for close contact. What is a grieving relative supposed to do at that point?

We also had pressure from some relatives to have a dinner afterwards for the extended group. Put awful stress on people who are grieving and thankfully said "no" - but they shouldn't have been put in that position.

I think the Church can do more here. Say that the limits are the limits, inside and outside the Church. Send a clear message that during a pandemic they want everyone to feel safe and we need to suspend our normal customs and practices.

igCorcaigh · 15-11-2020 08:35PM

^^^ wow, the reports above are insane. Unbelievable!

440Hertz · 15-11-2020 08:39PM

People are very driven by customs and often you don't have a clue what you're up to during a funeral of a close family member. My mother died not that long ago and it was extremely unexpected and to be quite honest, I did the funeral on auto-pilot. I can't even remember the details of how things got organised and also people don't necessarily behave logically.

It was really nice to all end up at a big house party (this was pre covid) but at the moment it would be incredibly stupid, but I could completely see how it could potentially end up that way.

chasm · 15-11-2020 09:03PM

The ARU "monitor" them down in Roscommon!
https://www.shannonside.ie/news/local/gardai-monitoring-large-public-event-dublin-road-roscommon/

Gael23 · 15-11-2020 09:27PM

s1ippy wrote: »

I was at a funeral the other day and there was communion given out at the mass. WTAF.

That’s allowed but it can’t be placed directly in your mouth

Loafing Oaf · 15-11-2020 09:46PM

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Yeah, I'm thinking it might be indoor gatherings associated with the funeral?

Yes, I'd say few of these infection clusters are actually happening inside the church, even in cases of larger-than-permitted congregations.

IrishHomer · 15-11-2020 09:50PM

daheff wrote: »

Not their responsibility to do this?

People at the funerals are (in general) adults and should be obeying the guidance.

They don't do it (majority dont). I've witnessed it recently first hand

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 16-11-2020 12:37PM

Minier81 wrote: »

Its is 25.

I know someone who went to a funeral in level5 planning to just stand outside and the funeral director went around ushering all the outside mourners inside. He was saying it a a fine big church, plenty of space to spread out. About 90 inside for the funeral mass. Crazy stuff.

My friends father died in a rural area. The family were trying to keep to guidelines but the priest told all those standing outside to come in.
Then a load of mourners turned up at the house afterwards where the family had been planning a private event for the allowed number with sandwiches ordered from a nearby venue.

Some people just have no cop on.

wakka12 · 16-11-2020 02:19PM

political analyst wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1115/1178244-covid-ireland-latest/

Dr Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer, said the average daily five-day case count "is rising and is now over 400 per day".

Why didn't those who officiate at funerals (priests in most cases) instruct mourners to maintain distancing among themselves?

They do, however during mourning of a loved one COVID is the last thing on the mind's of most attending. At two funerals I attended it can be ignored a lot of the time at best or at worst loved one's of the deceased can not be thinking completely rationally or int he right frame of mind and react aggressively or lash out at those they perceive to be going way over the top and telling everyone what to do on a day that is supposed to be about the deceased, not necesariyl directed at the priest but more often somebdoy acting on behalf of his instructions. I've seen some of these people be villainised and made out to be busy bodies with nothing better to do even though they are necessary and have good intentions. I'm not surprised there are outbreaks at funerals. People don't want to be thinking about COVID at a funeral and having it dictate how they go about remembering the last day they'll get to see their loved on, it's understandable but unfortunate.

Outbreaks linked to funerals.

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