COVID-19

Your MFDA Board and Association Management team have been working diligently with the Governor's Office and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to allow funeral directors to serve their customers during Maine’s "Stay Healthy at Home" Order. Below are links to information to help guide you through this crisis.

Please be aware that all guidance is subject to change as facts develop.

• The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation's latest Guidance for Funeral Professionals states:
• Arrangement conferences are limited to 5 persons
• Acceptance of cremated remains are limited to 2 family members

• Governor Mills' Executive Order #49 FY 19/20 “An Order to Stay Safer at Home” requires:

• Cloth face coverings to be worn in public places where physical distancing is difficult to maintain, as recommended by the U.S. CDC. 

• Cloth Face Coverings shall be worn at large gatherings, including those held outside and businesses accessible to the public shall post readily visible signs notifying customers of the requirement to wear cloth face coverings in that setting. Such businesses may deny entry or service to a person who is not wearing a covering and is not otherwise exempt from the requirement to do so. 

• Outdoor Gatherings: On August 1, 2020 Governor Mills' Executive Order 6 FY 20/21 “An Order Regarding Outdoor Gatherings"  increased the outdoor gathering limit from 50 to 100 people. The EO states that “[t]he limit on the number of persons for outdoor gatherings is 5 people per 1,000 sq. ft. of occupiable outdoor space or not more than 100 persons, whichever is less.

• Indoor Gatherings: Per Governor Mills’ Executive Order 14 FY 20/21 Order to Implement Phase Four of the Restarting Maine's Economy Plan, for establishments that provide and require seating for all invitees, the indoor gathering limit is 50% of the facility’s permitted occupancy limit or 100 persons, whichever is less. For establishments that do not provide and require seating for all invitees, the indoor gathering limit is 50. 

• Please note: Your square footage must allow for physical distancing guidelines that provide six feet between individuals AND SIX FEET BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD GROUPS. Also, the guidance regarding use of face coverings, as described in more detail below, remains in effect.

• All gathering limits include staff, clergy, musicians, etc. remain in effect. The rules regarding arrangement conferences and acceptance of cremated remains continue to be in place.

• Traveling to/from Maine:    Per Governor Mills’ Executive Order 34 FY 19/20 Establishing Quarantine Restrictions On Travelers Arriving in Maine, any person, resident or non-resident, traveling into Maine must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days or for the balance of 14 days dating from the day of arrival. Currently, residents from the states with a prevalence of active cases of COVID-19 that is similar or better to that in Maine are exempt from the quarantine requirement. Please refer to the Keep Maine Health FAQ webpage for a list of states exempted, since the designated states are subject to change and could change frequently. (https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy). Visitors are instructed not to travel to Maine if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and are advised not to travel to Maine if they are traveling from cities and regions identified as COVID-19 "hot spots”.
  

Governor's Stay Safer at Home Executive Order - 4/29/20

Governor's Stay Healthy at Home Order - 3/31/20

Maine Guidance for Funeral Services from the Commissioner

MFDA Transfer Protocol

Governor's Order for Notarizing of legal documents

Resources from NFDA

Maine CDC Daily Case Updates

Resources for Maine Citizens