Safety and Government Direction
Here's what the experts have to say about burial in general:
"The CDC states that decedents with COVID-19 may be buried or cremated according to the family's preference."                                                                             National Funeral Directors Association
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"There is currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of COVID-19."                 Centers for Disease Control  
It follows that burial is safe in a conventional or natural cemetery. All reports indicate that these burials are continuing to take place, though many are now immediate burials. The difference is that these burials will necessarily take place in isolation, without families present, and with workers maintaining distance from one another. This will have significant impact on management practices and the grief process for millions of families.

Natural burial cemeterians are already working together to find ways to continue their work efficiently and to provide the means for families and friends to participate without being physically present. Many are working closely with funeral directors who are developing ways to make accommodations as they facilitate the burials for the families using online platforms. Please check with your cemetery for specific guidelines.
More from the NFDA on cremation and burial (3.23.20):
"Currently, NFDA is not aware of any state laws requiring cremation for the remains of a decedent who died of a communicable disease. There may be authority for a State Public Health Department to require cremation in case of communicable disease, but no law mandates it. Stay abreast of any rules and regulations that are required by your state.

At this time, the CDC states that decedents with COVID-19 may be buried or cremated according to the family’s preferences. However, you should “check for any additional state and local requirements that may dictate the handling and disposition of the remains of individuals who have died of certain infectious diseases.”
Basic safety measures for cemetery services include:
  • Making sure that the families understand and agree to follow the clear guidelines set and enforced by your cemetery personnel
  • Maintaining 6 feet of space between cemetery workers and visitors of all kinds at all times
  • Designating tools that are not shared, if possible; sanitized frequently if shared
  • Gatherings, if permitted, must be in small groups (depending on state orders)
  • Sanitizing surface areas between groups arriving and departing, including shovels
  • Using masks and gloves, other PPE as necessary and available
  • Avoiding unnecessary movement of the shrouded or casketed body
  • Washing hands thoroughly after the service
  • Be aware that there is a difference in efficacy between medical grade gloves and masks and fabric or vinyl products
Basic facts about Covid-19 that indicate safety of burial:
  • The CDC says, "The virus likely spreads primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory infections spread. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. This type of spread is not a concern after death."
  • It is believed that this virus dies quickly when the host dies; however, to prevent any droplets from being expired by the lungs when moving, it is recommended that the decedent wear a mask.
  • The CDC does provide guidelines for bathing and shrouding the body, indicating that shroud burial is still possible when using caution. Some professionals are practicing bagging the body of Covid-19 cases prior to shrouding, though this is not a recommendation.
  • ​The risk of transmission is lower between people when outdoors than indoors. A distance of 6 feet is believed to be sufficient to avoid transmission in either space.

Designing Online Green Funerals

There are many online resources that can be useful in creating meaning and connection in isolation, and more are coming online daily as this crisis evolves and more people are realizing the implications of not being physically present at funeral services. Keep checking back with us as we add more sources.

Creating Ceremony
Families may or may not be familiar with designing online services, so creating ceremony using online tools may involve clergy, celebrants, cemeterians, home funeral guides, funeral directors, and others to coordinate in new ways. Here are some resources to assist with ceremony planning:
The Inspired Funeral
GatheringUs
Funeral Helper
Your End of Life Guide
OregonFuneral.org

Online Videoconferencing Platforms
Sometimes the only people present during a committal will be the funeral director, sexton, or other cemetery worker. Filming the burial with families and friends witnessing through a videoconferencing tool may be an option. Each platform works essentially the same but some have different restrictions, time availability by plan, and costs. Creating an event online takes planning and coordination, and someone who is capable of operating the equipment at graveside, even if it is simply a smartphone, so that the "attendees" experience the event as close to the real thing as possible. Online funeral services and memorials also require that everyone involved have ready and comfortable access. Here are some platforms that are proven to work well for this purpose:
You may wish to consider having the burial filmed and the uploaded for a restricted audience later, or livestream to anyone you choose to include using one of these methods:
  • Facebook group live streaming
  • Vimeo link to uploaded film
  • YouTube live-streaming and/or upload