When your loved one passes away due to COVID-19, it can be too sudden and hence tough to accept. It can also be very frustrating and emotionally taxing as there are some constraints when it comes to having a funeral conducted for someone who dies of COVID-19 in Singapore.

Some facts when it comes to holding a funeral wake for someone who passes away due to COVID-19 in Singapore:

• Decedent with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection can either be buried or cremated. Both are allowed in Singapore.
• Embalming is not allowed as stipulated by the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore if the decedent is either infected with COVID-19 or if the date of within 28 days of first being diagnosed with COVID-19 from the PCR or ART tests. If unsure whether deceased is considered positive COVID-19, please call us or seek advise from hospital personnel. This is unlike in other countries like Australia where embalming can be done on persons infected with the COVID-19 virus and hence can still be viewed using a half-glass viewing panel coffin.
• To ensure the safety of healthcare workers and funeral service providers like us, we would be don in personal protective equipment while transferring the decedent.
• The deceased has to be enclosed in at least one leak-proof bag before being placed in a hermetically sealed coffin (choose your coffin with us before we collect the body).
• There will not be viewing allowed for bereaved families if a person dies from COVID-19. It is a requirement if the death happens in a hospital or hospice that funeral companies bring the coffin over to directly seal the coffin at the morgue or holding room.
• As embalming is not allowed, a closed coffin have to be used for deaths due to COVID-19 in Singapore.
• Only certain funeral companies undertake the risks of assisting families to conduct funerals for COVID-19 decedent. Such companies would have to have professionals who have undergone the Basic Infection Control Course conducted by NEA. Harmony Funeral Care is one of the companies that can handle deaths due to infectious diseases like COVID-19 or AIDS. Refer to the list here to find out name listed as one of the companies that can handle such cases.
• Funeral wakes are to be held for a maximum of only 3 days in Singapore except in special circumstances. Call us to discuss with us if you happen to be in that special circumstance.
• It is difficult to repatriate a decedent infected with COVID-19 and hence it is strongly encouraged for a foreign deceased to be cremated locally in Singapore before the ashes be brought back to their homeland. Repatriation is still possible but approvals from the necessary regulatory bodies from Singapore and the decedent's homeland have to be obtained before this is allowed and such processes takes time.

Certain funeral parlour do not allow funeral wakes of COVID-19 deceased and some Roman Catholic churches do not allow the Catholic Funeral Mass on the final day to be held at their premise. In such cases, special arrangements will be made and we will help ensure that the entire event will be held as smooth as possible to help you through this tough time.

All in all, losing someone you love due to COVID-19 is unfortunate in Singapore and can be difficult to process. Allow us, Harmony Funeral Care to help you with this process. Call us now to find out more.