New changes for funeral homes under Alert Level 4

New changes for funeral homes under Alert Level 4 will allow families to visit loved ones in a limited capacity, but a Pasifika funeral director says online streaming is also serving the needs of Pasifika people particularly well in the Covid times with the extra need for Pasifika to be safe.  

"You can still bury and have the minister's sermon and the eulogies online, as well as the slideshows - all these elements can happen, you're just not there physically. The streaming service includes the burials, and the grave being filled in. Lots of families don't want to delay the body being above ground - given that we are not waiting for people to travel anymore because you can't." says well known Samoan funeral director Tauanu'u Nick Bakulich

In the new government announcement, families can visit registered funeral homes during alert level 4, provided they are in the same bubble, wear masks, maintain social distance and do not touch the deceased. 

There are some concerns from some funeral directors that there may be a lack of fully vaccinated staff to allow all families to say goodbye in person.

Tauanu'u says that the good alternative in the time of Covid has been the success of online streaming of funerals that can reach families far and wide.

"Our Pasifika people need to be the safest in these practices, its so important for our whole communities. Many families have been really happy and grateful for the new ways to do online streaming of funerals. 

Most of our families have been awesome in how we have conducted ourselves with our funerals for loved one - largely from our family elders laying down the fa'atonu and leadership for the families grieving but also from the new generations who have driven the online gatherings and things like knowledge around online banking, how a si'i can take place online. 
The fact that you can do these things instantly has had a big impact, when you do things electronically it has opened up a whole new world. 

We are trying to work with a liaison person from families who can do things for the aiga much faster now. They have often been able to care for their deceased in a calm and professional manner  when handling the new Covid situations around funeral gatherings. 

You can still bury and have the minister's sermon and the eulogies online, as well as the slideshows - all these elements can happen, you're just not there physically. The streaming service includes the burials, and the grave being filled in. Lots of families don't want to delay the body being above ground - given that we are not waiting for people to travel anymore because you can't. 

There will be options to gather under level 3 when 10- people can attend. The streaming of funerals online is fantastic and people can control the zoom of the funeral which allows you to control who streams, put a spotlight on the speaker and host the slideshow images.

It's a huge progression for funerals as you can also have many more people involved in seeing it this way and be safe. 

We had to move fast to be innovative around these things so our communities can all collectively grieve and express their alofa in a different form. 

There will be a bottleneck in Level 2 and 3 and we are expecting a big backlog especially with booking in burials. We are all so mindful of the absolute need to stay safe and stick to our numbers because we need to safeguard Pasifika people as the most vulnerable in this outbreak and avoid the disaster of superspreader events that funerals could become" Tauanu'u says. 

Families who want to view their deceased loved one under level 4 must:

* Be from the same bubble as the tūpāpaku

* Wear masks inside the funeral home and maintain physical distancing

* Not touch the tūpāpaku

* Not have symptoms of Covid-19

* Not be waiting for a Covid-19 test

* Not be required to be in isolation or be under a Section 70 Order.

The tūpāpaku may not be moved from the funeral home for viewing purposes.