Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has received advice from SAGE on an increased risk of covid-19 infection for people working in the funeral sector handling the bodies of people who have died from covid-19.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has not made a specific assessment.

Public Health England has published guidance for the care of the deceased with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, which includes guidance for funeral directors. This guidance suggests that those handling bodies should be aware there is likely to be a continuing risk of infection from body fluids and tissues where the infection is present. While the risk of infectious transmission is lower than for living patients, action should be taken to mitigate the risk. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-care-of-the-deceased/guidance-for-care-of-the-deceased-with-suspected-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19