The state clarified that funerals are included in the coronavirus-induced closure of entertainment, leisure and non-essential services.
By Casey Leins, Staff Writer
Washington state officials made it clear Thursday that funerals are considered "social gathering" and are prohibited during the coronavirus outbreak.
Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced a two-week closure of all restaurants, bars and entertainment facilities on Monday. He also announced an executive order banning events of 50 people or more.
On Thursday, the Washington State Department of Licensing clarified that funerals and memorial services are included in these closures.
Photos: Washington State Confronts COVID-19
This statewide closure of ntertainment, leisure and non-essential services includes funerals," the DOL wrote in an email to funeral directors, according to The Seattle Times.
As a result, funeral homes must tell families, some of which have specific funeral traditions important to their culture, that they are unable to provide their normal services.
"We've always been trained — and I grew up in the funeral business — you never say no," Weeks told the Times. "You do whatever you can to do what the family wants. But we have to say: 'No, I'm sorry, we want to help you but we can't.'"
According to the Times, the funeral industry has a number of other issues to worry about about right now besides having to cancel funerals. Staff must be cautious when handling bodies that could expose them to the coronavirus.
In Washington, one of the states most impacted thus far by the virus, Inslee has made a number of other moves to protect the state during the outbreak. Washington had 67 fatalities from the virus as of Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Inslee has suspended foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days, he waived the waiting period to receive unemployment insurance as workers are laid off and he has allocated up to $5 million in micro-grants to small businesses.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear addressed funerals during his press conference on Monday. Unlike in Washington, funerals aren't completely shut down.
"We need make sure that even at something like that, we have close family there, but that all of these sacrifices that we're making as a commonwealth and as a nation, that we don't gather in very large numbers and ultimately undo those sacrifices that we are doing," the Democratic governor said, according to the Courier Journal.
Casey Leins is a staff writer for the Best States section of U.S.
