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

• Face Coverings:  Per Governor Mill’s latest Executive Order 16 FY 20/21, effective Wednesday, November 4, Face covering requirements, including those set forth in Executive Orders 49 FY 19/20, 2 FY 20/21, and 14 FY 20/21, apply in public settings regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance. Contrary language in Section V of Executive Orders 49 FY 19/20, is hereby repealed.

• In addition, Executive Order 16 FY 20/21, requires, owners and operators of indoor public settings shall, as soon as practicable, post plainly visible signs notifying entrants of the requirement to wear cloth face coverings, and may deny service or entry for non-compliance with the Governor's face covering requirements.

• Indoor Gatherings:  Also, as previously noted, effective Wednesday, November 4, Executive Order 16 FY 20/21 states that the indoor gathering limit is returned to 50 persons, as provided for in Section I (A) of Executive Order 55 FY 19/20. Sections I(B)(1) & (2) of Executive Order 14 FY 20/21 are hereby repealed. 
  
• 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 above, 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.

• 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.
  

• 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”.
  

MFDA Transfer Protocol

Governor's Order for Notarizing of legal documents

Resources from NFDA

Maine CDC Daily Case Updates

Resources for Maine Citizens