Coronavirus: Councils bolster burial services teams as Covid-19 crisis escalates

With a surge in the number of Covid-19 related fatalities expected, many local authorities have already begun bolstering the strength of their ‘bereavement services’ teams.

Belfast City Council has said some workers have already been redeployed to “critical frontline services”.

A spokeswoman said the new measures were a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic and that it will continue to review its “operations and service delivery”.

She said: “We have provided training for staff and redeployed some workers to critical frontline services, including our bereavement services team. Staff are involved in ensuring continued service in relation to burials and cremations and associated business.”

At Mid and East Antrim Council, chief executive Anne Donaghy said council staff have “gone above and beyond to ensure frontline services are protected.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response of our staff to this crisis,” she said.

“They have gone above and beyond to ensure our vital frontline services are protected when they are needed most by our public.

“The scale of the current coronavirus pandemic is one which we in local government have never come across before.

“To ensure essential frontline services remain functional, our staff have been exceptional in offering themselves to assist across council roles.

Ms Donaghy added: “Within our council, this has included the mobilisation of our Economic Development team to frontline assistance of our businesses, council staff assisting with the delivery of essential goods to members of our community, an increase in our vehicle drivers, and as part of emergency contingency planning for a worst-case scenario, the availability of some staff to assist with our cemetery services.”

Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said they have “put out an expression of interest” for any staff who wish to volunteer to work in a number of key services in the event that frontline provision becomes affected due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – and that any necessary training will be provided.

The situation is similar in the Mid Ulster Council area – with staff being “as required to continue delivery of essential services”.

A spokesman said they had not yet had to “retrain staff for cemetery services,” the situation is being kept under review.

Lisburn and Castlereagh Council has also confirmed that staff are being redeployed to “other roles within its critical services” as needed.