ANYONE who dies of coronavirus should be immediately cremated or buried without a service, a group representing funeral directors across Ireland has advised.
The Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) sent a list of recommendations to its members in the event of Covid-19 related deaths.
The recommendations included immediate interment or cremation, with a funeral service at a later date.
Funeral instructions should only be taken over the phone, relatives should not be allowed in funeral homes or offices and funeral directors should not provide transport for the family of the deceased.
According to the recommendations, the deceased should be kept in an isolated cold room at funeral directors' facilities and should not be embalmed but placed in a closed coffin.
Any vehicle used to transport the deceased should be deep-cleaned after the removal of the remains.
Public gatherings "such as church services, gatherings at funeral homes, residences, crematorium chapels, etc, should not take place", the recommendations read.
A total of 40 people have so far been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ireland - 16 in the north and 24 in the Republic.
IAFD members conduct 80 per cent of funerals on the island of Ireland.
A spokesman for IAFD said it did not wish to upset any families.
"We have issued a guidance policy to our members in the unfortunate event that they may have to arrange a funeral for a victim of coronavirus," he said.
"Whilst this policy may make for uncomfortable reading it was not our intention to alarm the public or be insensitive to the trauma that loved ones may face should a member of their family die from the disease.
"We will continue to monitor advice from the government and although the health and safety of our members is paramount, we would assure the public that should any of our members be required to arrange a funeral, under these unprecedented circumstances, they will do so with the utmost respect and professionalism for the deceased and their bereaved family."
