COVID - 19 NOTICE

23/12/2020

In response to our areas Tier 4 restrictions and in our continued efforts to support our families and our staffs well-being we felt it prudent to advise of our latest protocols:

• Although our limousines are available we would ask families to consider if they are entirely necessary for their journey. If limousines are needed then all passengers (except those exempt) must wear face covering for the entirety of the journey. Passengers must also be from the same household or support bubble.
• All funeral arrangements until further notice will continue to be arranged remotely via telephone, email or zoom meeting.
• Our premises remain open however we are operating an appointment only basis.
• If visits to our premises are required we can only permit 2 people at any one time (this includes Chapel viewings). We respectfully ask that those visiting wear face coverings (unless exempt) and follow the guidance from our staff once in our premises.
• With regret, we are unable to offer Chapel viewings or dressing to anyone who has passed as an effect of COVID-19.

We thank you for your continued support and understanding if any further guidance is required please contact one of our branches.

18/9/2020

NHS Test and Trace
In our continued efforts to help control the virus and assist the NHS we will now be taking details of anyone who enters any of our premises by asking them upon entry to use either our branch specific QR Code or by us taking details and entering them to our test and trace forms. These details will be kept for 3 weeks following and then disposed of accordingly.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation at this time.

16/9/2020

Mourner Attendance
From Monday 14th September 2020, in continuation of the Government guidance regarding the number of mourners who can attend a funeral remains at a maximum of 30 people. This does not include funeral staff, Ministers, Chapel attendants etc. The guidance also requires all mourners to wear face coverings throughout the service unless they fall into the exemption category.

Please be aware that the 'rule of 6' will also apply to any post funeral gathering unless the venue advises differently.

23/7/2020

Limousines
In light of the introduction of the one metre plus rule, which allows for greater social interaction provided protection measures are in place. The main change from a vehicles perspective is that people from different households can now share limousines but they must wear face coverings whilst travelling together. Therefore with immediate affect all mourners travelling in our limousines MUST wear face masks unless they fall into the exemption category.

Trace and trace form
We now ask that the chief mourners or funeral applicants are responsible for the collection of mourner contact details for the purposes of cooperating with the NHS Test and Trace system for England. We will provide our clients with a form to use to store names and contact details of those attending the funeral service. If the lead mourner prefers to give this responsibility to their nominee, it is important the funeral director and the crematorium have contact details of the nominee. Ideally, the names of mourners will be collated before the funeral takes place. This document will be retained for 21 days following the funeral and then destroyed. In accordance, we will treat your personal information with care and confidentiality in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) or any legislation enforced. We shall not share your information with third party organisations without your permission or without legitimate business interest.

As always, if your require any further guidance please contact one of our branches.

29/6/2020

From Monday 6th July 2020 we will be reintroducing the provision of the use of our limousines for funeral services. For the safety of our clients and staff we have invested in having protective screens fitted into our vehicles however, we have implemented new rules which will need to be adhered to.

• A maximum of 6 passengers only per limousine. No option for anyone to travel with the driver in the front passenger seat.
• Passengers should be from the same household or social bubble.
• We encourage passengers to wear their own face masks whilst travelling.
• Passengers will also be encouraged to use hand sanitiser which we will have in each limousine.
• Our driver's will wear face coverings at all times whilst carrying passengers.
• The interior and handles of our limousines to be disinfected before each funeral.
• Our driver's will open doors for passengers then stand back to allow them space to enter and will repeat the process for when they exit to minimise contact.

We will continue to assess our services and act accordingly and responsibly. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact one of our branches.

12/6/2020

Reintroduction of services
In light of lockdown restrictions being slightly eased and in accordance with government guidance from Monday 15th June 2020, we will reintroduce some services to our clients. Please be assured that each decision has been thoroughly considered and we hope that these are the first small steps back to a normal working environment. Please also rest assured that we have an obligation to withdraw services again if we encounter a second spike.

Please see below our updated procedures:

• COVID-19 case procedure to remain in place.
• We still encourage telephone arrangement where ever possible. If clients insist on a physical visit, a maximum of 2 may attend our offices and observe the 2m social distancing guideline, arrangements strictly by appointment only. COVID-19 questions prior to the visit still apply.
• No home visit arrangements.
• Embalming and chapel viewing will be permitted for all NON COVID-19, if desired.
• Viewing will be strictly 2 visitors at a time at our Rainham and Chatham Chapels ONLY. Strictly appointment only, at either 10am or 2pm. Monday to Friday, no weekends or out of hours viewing permitted.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to offer drinks or use of our toilet facilities.
• Provision of limousines use still unavailable.

We appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation during this difficult time and remain committed to ensuring the well-being of our clients and staff is of paramount importance. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our branches.

6/4/2020

Due to the continuous developments of the corona virus pandemic and our role as funeral directors, for the safety of our families, clients and staff we have an obligation to act responsibly.

Our company policy until further notice is as follows:

• Viewing of the deceased will not be permitted.
• Dressing of deceased in their own clothing will not be permitted.
• We respectfully ask that families of those effected by or showing symptoms of COVID-19 do not visit our premises.
• With regret some of our standard services including provision of the use of our limousines will not be available until further notice.

We appreciate your understanding at this difficult time, please telephone one of branches if you require any further assistance.

24/3/2020

Following the strict guidance from the government in regards to our national safety until further notice we are now operating on an appointment only basis. If you require any such appointment please consider if your visit is entirely necessary and if so, we will only permit families into our premises 2 at a time, for any type of appointment.

We encourage our families to consider contact with us via telephone or email and our staff are available to assist with all enquiries remotely. With regret some of our standard services will not be available until further notice. If you have any questions please do not hesitate in contacting one of our branches.

We would like to thank you for your understanding at this difficult time as the wellbeing of our families, clients and staff being of paramount importance.

18/3/2020

Further to our recent update below and following government advice in regards to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines we have taken measures in reducing social contact with the wellbeing of our families, clients and staff being of paramount importance. Therefore with regret some of our standard services including provision of the use of our limousines will not be available until further notice.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate in contacting one of our branches.

17/3/2020

John Weir Funeral Directors would like to reassure our families that to ensure business continuity we have procedures in place to deal with the developing Covid-19 situation. We are still happy for families to visit any of our branches in person but should they prefer we are offering a telephone service with or without skype or facetime.

We are in constant contact with our professional associations in order to keep updated about this very fast moving situation.

Please do not be offended if our staff do not offer to shake your hand as they have been instructed not to do so. On a lighter note, elbow bumping and foot kicking are welcome but lets keep it gentle!