Governor Walz signed Executive Order 21-07 effective February 13, 2021. Funeral services and ceremonies are unchanged – the current limit of 50% capacity remains in place. The Executive Order makes changes to celebrations and receptions in venues and increases the capacity limits. More information below.
1. For a service or ceremony at a funeral home, a place of worship, or other venue, capacity must be limited to allow for 6 feet of social distancing, up to a maximum of 50% capacity. For this type of activity, follow the guidance below and the Preparedness Plan Requirements for Faith-Based Communities, Places of Worship, Weddings, and Funerals (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/safefaith.pdf).
2. For a time to gather or visit without food and beverages, capacity must be limited to allow for 6 feet of social distancing, no more than 25% capacity, and no more than 250 people, whichever is less. For this type of activity, follow Requirements for Celebrations and Significant Life Events (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/safeevents.pdf).
3. When sharing food and beverages or a meal, capacity must be limited to allow for 6 feet of social distancing, and no more than 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is less. For this type of activity, follow Requirements for Celebrations and Significant Life Events (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/safeevents.pdf).
We will share the guidance from the Department of Health when it becomes available.
The following guidance has recently been updated, and is now available on the MDH Mortuary Science website: • Planning Funeral and Memorial Services during COVID-19 (PDF) (updated 1/15/21) • Preparedness Plan Requirements for Faith-Based Communities, Places of Worship, Weddings, and Funerals (PDF) (updated 2/12/21)
In addition, links to the following resources have been added: • Guidance for Vehicle Gatherings, Parades, and Drive-ins (PDF) (updated 2/12/21) • Indoor Air Considerations: COVID-19
For more information, see the Mortuary Science website.
Visitations are considered part of the funeral ceremony - Please see more on this subject in INTERNAL MEMORANDUM REGARDING GOV. WALZ’S NOV. 10 EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-96
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If you are planning to hold funerals greater than 10 people at your funeral home, it is a requirement to have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
COVID-19 Preparedness Plan template and instructions (updated July 22, 2020) – Word document | PDF
Translated versions of Word document (updated June 15, 2020) – Hmong | Somali | Spanish | Burmese
All businesses are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that complies with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) COVID-19 guidelines and OSHA standards.
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