By: Ryn Williams, Copy Editor
In the past six months alone, the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected businesses, schools, traveling; and postponed events like weddings graduations, and funerals. But how exactly do you postpone a funeral?
CDC Guidelines have hit large, tight-knit families like mine in a very impactful way. Family traditions have changed from hour-long goodbyes and huge birthday parties, several times a year, to now Zooming occasionally and Facebook messaging. It has been alienating and strange. Funerals in my family were a big deal, too, and always drew a huge crowd.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case when my Great Grandfather passed away on March 20, 2020; only 21 days after COVID-19 was first reported in Florida, and just a week after most schools decided to extend their spring breaks.He never contracted COVID-19; while it wasn’t involved in his passing, my family was still directly impacted by the virus.
Despite being closed, the funeral home graciously took us in – under strict circumstances. We had to wear masks the entire time, stay six feet apart at separate tables, and keep touching to a minimum. My Great Grandfather was buried next to his loving wife, on March 27, with only 10 family members present: a stark contrast from his last birthday party, which had over a hundred attendees.
My situation is not the only one of its kind. Funerals around the United States have been affected by the CDC Guidelines. On their official website regarding funerals, they encourage people to avoid standing closer than six feet, to wear a mask if distancing is unavoidable, and to gather outside if possible. They also discourage the use of items being passed around, like hymn books or program pamphlets.
Of course, these guidelines don’t only affect funerals. Hospital visitations have also been incredibly limited, and the CDC strongly advises against in-person visitation, especially if the person in hospital care is at an increased risk for severe illness.
As a result of this day and age we become desensitized to all the bad news we hear. Despite that, I beg you to not just think of yourselves, and to please take the necessary precautions to fight against the spread of COVID-19. Think of the people whose lives were directly impacted by effects of COVID-19 and contribute to the solution – not the problem.
