Test and Protect comes into effect at city funeral services

17 July 2020

The contact details of individuals or a ‘lead member’ of a household attending funeral services at Aberdeen Crematorium or at any of the city’s cemeteries are being collected by Aberdeen City Council to help support NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect service.

This measure is in line with the latest Scottish Government guidance and came into effect on Wednesday 15 July. Test and Protect is being applied in a range of community settings – from hairdressers to restaurants – and forms part of the national effort to suppress COVID-19 and support the country to return to a more normal way of life.

The Scottish Government’s latest guidance allows for cremation authorities to open for all services in addition to funeral services, for example, to view the book of remembrance or for ashes to be collected by individuals.

A maximum of 20 people will now be able to attend a funeral service at Aberdeen Crematorium and at graveyards and these are no longer limited to just ‘close family’.

At all times, social distancing guidelines must be complied with. This will require attendees, Funeral Directors, officiants, and staff to maintain a minimum distance of 2 metres from other persons unless they are members of the same household.

The numbers attending funeral services and any other easing of restrictions will be constantly reviewed in line with government guidance.

Details of the Council's response to the route map and FAQs will continue to be shared on our website.