Hamilton Municipal Cemeteries Update on COVID-19
Hamilton Municipal Cemeteries remains available to serve families. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of the families we serve, our bereavement partners and our dedicated staff.
Given the current situation with COVID-19, we want to reassure you that we have several ways to communicate, share information and provide cemetery services to you. We continue to adjust our operations to help reduce public interaction to do our part to slow down the transmission of this virus.
Review the implemented protocols
Our offices are open with limited public access. Appointments are required and can be made by calling our office at 905-546-4704.
We currently are only meeting with families who are making cemetery arrangements for immediate burial arrangements or pre-planning cemetery property. Should you find it more convenient or preferable, we can make arrangements by phone and email.
- Appointments will be required. When meeting with our Family Services Coordinator, please use safe distance protocols including no direct physical contact such as handshakes and observe a 6-foot distance whenever possible.
- Arrangements appointments will be limited to 2 individuals.
- Payments for services are to be made by credit card or cheque only.
- Planning Ahead (Pre-Arranging) - We are scheduling appointments.
- Masks or face coverings are mandatory while inside all facilities or while meeting with our Family Service Coordinator
All visitors with appointments must complete a COVID-19 self-assessment health screening before entering. Copies will be provided.
The self-assessment health screening asks questions about possible COVID-19 symptoms, your travel history and whether you have had any close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, everyone entering Cemetery Facilities is requested to use the alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is available at each of the entrances
Our cemeteries remain open to families wishing to visit a loved one’s burial lot. Visitation guest gatherings will be subject to provincial gathering limits. Please note that all limits are subject to proper physical distancing of 2 metres or 6 feet being maintained.
During this period, we will focus on providing essential services, which means our top priority will be to those families who have experienced a death. For all additional inquires, please contact our office by email at [email protected]
Screening
All visitors with appointments must complete a COVID-19 self-assessment health screening before entering. Copies will be provided.
The self-assessment health screening asks questions about possible COVID-19 symptoms, your travel history and whether you have had any close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.Please visit www.hamilton.ca/coronovis.
All visitors to our locations (with the exception of cemetery grounds) will be asked if you have any of the following:
- Fever
- New or worse cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
- Loss of taste or smell
- Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Croup
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
If a guest answers YES, they will be asked to return home, self isolate and get tested for COVID -19. The appointment will be cancelled, and Cemetery arrangements will be made remotely.
For all Interment Services (Burial or Cremation)
- Any person who is under self-isolation is not permitted to attend services.
- Graveside Services and gatherings should be limited to immediate family members and will be limited to no more than 100 people practicing physical distancing.
- We will encourage physical distancing and we ask that you avoid expressions of sympathy like handshaking, hugging and other direct physical contact with your guests.
- We encourage families to include a message in their obituaries and notices that anybody who is unwell should not attend, and to limit physical contact
- For lot interments, casketed remains will be placed on a cemetery device. Committal prayers will be completed, if requested, and thereafter patrons will be invited to leave - allowing our staff to complete the interment or burial.
- There will be no witnessing of lowering the casket or urn for the time being.
- Cemetery Operational Staff will only proceed to the interment site once all family members have left.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and adhering to these protocols during these unprecedented times.
Hamilton Municipal Cemeteries
Phone 905-546-4704