Fewer funerals over the weekend limits spread

WEEKDAY funerals are the best way to prevent large crowds from gathering and thus limiting the spread of the coronavirus.

The City of Cape Town had called for weekday burials rather than weekends.

Mayco member for community services Zahid Badroodien said while there has been a downturn in both Covid-19 cases and related fatalities, the City wants to ensure that it can meet the demand for burials and cremation in a safe and dignified manner.

“The demand for Saturday burials dropped, but it remains the busiest day of the week. In the interest of advancing continued social distancing and other Covid19 health protocols, the City asks that residents continue considering alternative days for burials where possible.”

Badroodien said recent data showed that Saturdays accounted for just more than 35% of all burials, with Friday and Thursday the busiest alternative days. Sunday and Monday are the least busy days for burials.

“We are simply requesting the public to assist us by having burials on other days of the week, to reduce the congestion at cemeteries on Saturdays, in the interest of public safety,” said Badroodien.

While the demand for burial and cremation has remained within the City’s capacity, their contingencies, activated early on in the pandemic, will remain in place.

Provincial health spokesperson Mark van der Heever said mortuaries had sufficient capacity.

“I think this is to limit the number of people at gatherings, in line with national regulations.

“Also remember, our mortuaries only admit cases due to unnatural cause of death of which an autopsy is required,” said Van Der Heever.

Badroodien said as more people return to work, more funerals would be scheduled for Saturdays which could result in a second spike of infections.

“In terms of national regulations pertaining to burials, a maximum of 50 people are allowed at the graveside, a maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for the burial and mourners are expected to maintain appropriate social distancing and wear masks at all times.

“Graveside visits are also not allowed in terms of the regulations,” said Badroodien.

Reverend Nkosinathi Geja from Langa Methodist Church said with Covid-19 they were moving away from Saturday burials. “Saturday was more of a for family and friends to

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Demand for Saturday burials dropped, but remained the busiest day

Zahid Badroodien COMMUNITY SERVICES MAYCO

convenience thing attend,” said Geja.

Ashwin Trikamjee president of SA Hindu Maha Sabha said Hindus don’t wait for weekends to bury their loved ones.

“The funeral is held as soon as possible. “So the decision to exclude weekends has no major impact on our cremations and burials.

“Excluding weekends will undoubtedly be problematic,” said Trikamjee.

Riad Fataar from the Judicial Muslim Council said this did not affect them as they bury within 24hrs.