NEWS 14 <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>September</strong> 2, 2<strong>02</strong>1 www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz Grieving in lockdown DANIEL.TOBIN @ashburtoncourier.co.nz Losing aloved one is hard enough, but when it happens during lockdown the normal grieving process is not possible . While funeral directors are an essential service, under the Alert Level 4families could not gather together and say goodbye. Paterson’s Funeral Services manager Barry Hayman said guidelines to be followed were set by the Ministry of Health (MOH), can mean losing any personal touch. In lockdown, directors were limited to phoning the family. ‘‘We had to phone the family rather than sitting with them, which is more challenging because you can’t interact. ‘‘It’s not personal like it would normally be,’’ he said. Under Alert Level 3, numbers at afuneral are limited to 10 people. ‘‘It is very difficult for people who are grieving, we feel awkward because we can't provide the service we would normally provide to families, we have to do it in atotally different way.’’ One such option wasthe chancefor onlineviewingsof the deceased; anecessity for someincovidtimes. Millie Ara graduate Viewing conditions: Be from the same bubble as the deceased Wear masks inside the funeral home and maintain physical distancing No touching the deceased Not have symptoms of Covid 19 Not be waiting for aCovid19 test Not required to be in isolation ‘‘You only getone chance to say goodbye and at the moment thatopportunityis being taken awayfrom families,’’ he said. FuneralDirectors AssociationofNZchief executiveDavidMogersaid he was acutely aware of the distress causedtofamiliesby covid and had petitioned government for change. ‘‘Wehave alsosubmitted documentstothe MOH about the change to Alert Level 3, seekingtoensure that families have some certainty about whattheycan or cannot do.’’ It hadbeendeemed a success with changes confirmed yesterdaythat allow forfamily viewing at a registeredfuneral home duringAlert Level 4, but only if they are in thesame bubble. “There areother conditionsfor funeral directors,” Mr Moger said, “andtheyare allinlinewith our proposal except for one. ‘‘There is arequirement that the funeral director supervisingthe viewing must be fully vaccinated. ‘‘Thisisproblematic becausewhen we asked for early accesstothe vaccination programme for funeraldirectors as an essentialservice earlier this year, we were denied.” The Funeral Directors Associationasked the Government foraccess to the vaccinationprogramme for funeraldirectors in March 2<strong>02</strong>1but were deniedbythe MOH,citinglimited community transmission as the reasonand thefact that funeraldirectors were not deemed to be an essential health service. “This means that the number of funeral directors availablethat arenow fully vaccinated is limited,and we are trying to assesswhat impact that delay will have.” “We do believe thatour members shouldberegarded as an essentialhealthservice and that if they were, this problem would not have occurred.” Ted had afew activities for passing children. Ted keeps busy during lockdown Alarge furry feature of last year’s lockdownhas made a reappearance on McKenzie Street in Geraldine. Ted, alifesize teddy bear, kept the neighbourhood entertained duringthe 2<strong>02</strong>0 lockdownwithhis antics outside Andorra Motel. He hasreturned againthis year. Andorra Motel owner Sally Millar tookTed along to her covidtest, and since then he has beenback in action every day. Sally said many people contacted her at the start of lockdown askingifTed would makeareappearance. ‘‘Kidslove him,but oldies also love him,they all comment, you can actually hear people talk to Tedit’s really funny.’’ Last lockdown people would leavenotes and even money for Ted which was donated to other causes. Tedhas been abusy bear this time around, each day he can be seen doing avariety of things, including fixingacar, PHOTO MURRAY THOMPSON Ted having his covid test. cleaningthe gutteringorjust chilling outwithacoffee watching the world go by. ‘‘Last year we used to spend a lot of timedeciding on what he was doing,this timeitisalittle bit cruiser,Ijustthink of things, and think yeah we’ll do that tomorrow.’’ foracareer in nursing Equip yourself to makeadifferencetothe lives of others withaBachelor of NursingfromAra, starting in TimaruinFebruary. Applications close on 30 <strong>September</strong>, places arelimited. For details and to apply visit ara.ac.nz Want to get paid for your weeklywalk? I’mMarythe Delivery Supervisor forthe <strong>Courier</strong>. I am looking for reliable people to deliver the <strong>Courier</strong> each Thursday in the Tinwald area. If you are keen to find out more about this opportunity, please send me an email or give me a call and we can talk further. Please email mary.summerfield@ashburtoncourier.co.nz or phone Mary on 03 308 7664 forfurther details. 2409686
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