The last few years have seen an exponential rise in everyday objects that require a charge. From your cell phones and laptops, to your children’s toys, to e-cigarettes, most people can’t go more than a day without needing to charge something.

Now, even larger objects such as scooters, bikes and cars also get charged overnight. With more and more chargers in use in your home or business comes increased use of lithium ion batteries. These batteries are very compact and powerful, but like any appliance, they can run the risk of short circuiting and creating larger issues such as personal injury or property damage.

In 2022, the New York City Fire Department responded to more than 200 e-scooter and e-bike fires, with six of them resulting in fatalities. Earlier this year, it took a score of firefighters to put out a five-alarm apartment building fire resulting from an e-scooter that short circuited on the roof. Similarly, the lithium ion battery in a Tesla spontaneously combusted on the road in California. Less severe, laptops that overheat or short circuit can become corrupt or destroyed, resulting in the loss of any files or information not stored in the cloud.

Here are some tips to protect against fires caused by battery issues:

Use only the batteries designed for the device. This may seem obvious, especially with objects like phones and laptops that have unique chargers, but for other objects it is not as clear. Make sure to know what amount of power the battery supporting the object can handle; using too strong of a charge can lead to short circuiting.

Only charge batteries on flat, dry surfaces. Devices should never be charged under a pillow, in bed or on a couch because they could overheat. Anything that might be charged in a place that may get wet (such as a bathroom or garage) should use a waterproof charger.

Do not charge them at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit ( or 0 degrees Celsius) or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 degrees Celsius).

If a battery looks to be a different color, feels very hot to the touch, has changed shape, or has an odor, stop using it and dispose of it properly.

Lithium batteries should never be thrown in the regular trash. They should be recycled through a battery recycling location or contact your local community for disposal instructions.

For more information on batteries, click here.

The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association is committed to providing our members with all the latest information and resources concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health response to it.

To that end, we are compiling a list of informative FORUM articles already published and helpful links to source documents and web pages where more details can be found. We will continue to update this compilation as more information becomes available.

IMPORTANT UPDATES

National COVID-19 Emergencies Likely to End on May 11
The administration of President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is planning to lift the national and public health emergencies declared in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. (Published January 31, 2023)

NJ Deaths Top 80,000 Again in 2022
The number of New Jerseyans who died in 2022 topped 80,000 for the third year in a row, well above the statistical norm for the five years prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. (Published January 27, 2023)

New COVID-19 Variant Stokes Fears of Surge
A new variant of COVID-19 is now responsible for approximately half of new virus cases, prompting some concern from scientists and health officials that it could lead to a winter surge of infections. (Published January 23, 2023)

Life Expectancy Shrinks Again in 2021
Life expectancy in the United States has dropped for the second straight year, lowering the average life span of an American to 76.4 years, roughly the same average as in 1996, according to recently released federal figures. (Published December 23, 2022)

FEMA FUNERAL AID

FEMA Funeral Reimbursements Pass $93 Million in NJ
Federal Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 funeral assistance funds supplied to New Jersey applicants has passed $93 million, according to figures provided by FEMA. (Published July 6, 2022)

FEMA COVID Funeral Aid Paid for Ineligible Items, Report Says
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s COVID-19 funeral assistance program has reimbursed family members for expenses usually disallowed by federal guidelines, “putting millions of taxpayer dollars at an elevated risk of waste and abuse,” a federal report issued in April 2022 claims. (Published April 19, 2022)

FEMA Still Accepting Funeral Aid Applications
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is still accepting applications for COVID-19 funeral reimbursement funds, having paid out more than $66.7 million to New Jerseyans with family members who died of COVID-19 or coronavirus-related causes. (Published February 8, 2022)

$63.6 Million in FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Aid Awarded in New Jersey in 2021
New Jersey residents who applied for and received Federal Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 funeral reimbursement funds in 2021 were awarded more than $63.6 million, according to year-end figures provided by FEMA. (Published January 10, 2022)

FEMA Funeral Aid Applications in NJ Still Outpace National Numbers
The percentage of New Jersey applicants for Federal Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 funeral aid compared to deaths in the state is 2.5 percentage points higher than the national number, according to recently released FEMA statistics. (Published October 5, 2021)

$44 Million in FEMA Funeral Aid Distributed to New Jerseyans
The number of New Jersey recipients of Federal Emergency Management Agency funeral aid for the families of those who died of COVID-19 or coronavirus-related causes amounts to more than 4 percent of the total number of those receiving reimbursements nationally. (Published August 13, 2021)

FEMA Funeral Aid Received by New Jerseyans Tops $34 Million
New Jersey families with relatives who have died from COVID-19 or coronavirus-related causes have received more than $34 million in funeral assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to recently released figures. (Published July 23, 2021)

Rule Change Could Make It Easier to Apply for FEMA Funeral Aid
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is amending its policies for applying for funeral aid in order to assist families whose relatives died during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published June 30, 2021)

Applications for FEMA Funeral Aid Top 40 Percent in New Jersey
More than 40 percent of New Jerseyans who lost a family member to COVID-19 have applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funeral aid, according to recent FEMA statistics. (Published June 28, 2021)

More than $10 Million in FEMA Funeral Aid Received in NJ
The amount of funeral reimbursements New Jerseyans have received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has topped $10 million, according to recently released FEMA statistics. (Published June 7, 2021)

FEMA Funeral Reimbursements for New Jerseyans Pass the $2 Million Mark
The amount of reimbursements to New Jerseyans seeking to take advantage of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s funeral assistance fund has topped $2 million, according to statistics recently released by FEMA. (Published May 14, 2021)

FEMA Will Call Funeral Homes to Verify Funeral Aid Application Information
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has confirmed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be contacting funeral homes in order to verify some of the information that applicants for COVID-19 funeral assistance have submitted to the agency. (Published May 7, 2021)

FEMA Funeral Applications from NJ Steadily Climbing
The number of New Jersey applicants for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s funeral assistance represents about 30.1 percent of the total number of deaths related to COVID-19 in the state, according to figures recently released by FEMA. (Published May 4, 2021)

FEMA Scams Reported; Funeral Directors Urged to Be Vigilant
Funeral directors should remain vigilant of potential scams seeking to take advantage the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s funeral assistance fund. (Published on May 1, 2021)

More than 4,000 New Jersey Residents Apply for FEMA Funeral Aid in First Week
It was a busy first week for the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s funeral assistance hotline, which fielded more than 1 million calls on its first day alone. (Published April 16, 2021)

FEMA Funeral Aid 800 Number is Functional; Delays Reported
The 800 number families must call to begin the process of applying for Federal Emergency Management Administration funeral aid is now functioning. (Published April 12, 2021)

FEMA Will Take Funeral Assistance Applications Beginning April 12, 2021
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will begin taking applications for COVID-19 funeral assistance on April 12, 2021. (Published April 2, 2021)

FEMA Warns of Funeral Aid Registration Scams
Scammers are reaching out to people who lost a family member to COVID-19 and offering to register them for Federal Emergency Management Agency funeral assistance. (Published March 30, 2021)

FEMA to Implement COVID-19 Funeral Assistance in April
Funeral directors will soon be able to direct their families to a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that will reimburse up to $9,000 for funeral-related expenses for those who died of COVID-19 or coronavirus-related causes after January 20, 2020. (Published March 26, 2021)

Eligible Families Can Soon Apply for COVID-19 Related Funeral Expenses
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will begin reimbursing eligible families who incurred funeral expenses of those who died due to COVID-19. (Published February 16, 2021)

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

Trust to Temporarily Accept E-Signatures for New Accounts
The New Jersey Prepaid Funeral Trust Fund will temporarily accept electronic signatures for new prepaid trust accounts during New Jersey’s State of Emergency. (Published April 2, 2020)

E-Signature Process for NJSFDA Funeral Docs
While operating under a State of Emergency, certain actions and procedures may need to temporarily be implemented, contrary to or in spite of statute or regulation, in order to manage a situation for the health and safety of all involved. (Updated April 1, 2020)

Guide to E-Signature Process for NJSFDA Funeral Docs
(Published April 1, 2020)

MESSAGE FROM NJSFDA CEO

Left to Our Own Devices
The difference a year makes when we are dealing with a health emergency is astonishing. (Published January 1, 2022)

FORUM NEWS

COVID-19 Cases Increasing Once Again in NJ
Positive cases of COVID-19 are once again increasing in New Jersey, with the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths attributed to the virus also rising as the weather turns colder and people are more confined to the indoors. (Published December 21, 2022)

New COVID-19 Variants Fuel Worry About Winter Surge
A multitude of COVID-19 variants have appeared, causing scientists to worry that one of them could cause a surge in virus cases this winter. (Published October 27, 2022)

A New Tool in COVID-19 Research: Yankee Candle Reviews
Academics are exploring the use of a new indicator when it comes to noticing and predicting spikes in the COVID-19 virus: Yankee candles. (Published October 18, 2022)

Poll: Half of Americans Believe Pandemic is Not Over
Half of Americans believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and will be something they will need to live with for the foreseeable future, according to a recent poll conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute. (Published October 12, 2022)

Deaths Remain High Through First Half of 2022
The number of overall deaths in New Jersey remained 10.4 percent higher than the statistical norm through the first six months of 2022, signaling that COVID-19 is still a factor for the state’s funeral directors. (Published September 19, 2022)

800 NJ Sites to Have Bivalent Booster Doses in Coming Days
Individuals ages 12 and older are now able to obtain a COVID-19 bivalent booster dose, which should be received two months after their most recent booster or primary series. (Published September 6, 2022)

CDC Issues New Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has augmented its COVID-19 guidance to place more responsibility in the hands of individuals, rather than institutions and businesses, for controlling the spread of the virus. (Published August 12, 2022)

COVID Cases Once Again Rise in NJ
COVID-19 cases are once again increasing in New Jersey, driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant, leaving more than 1,000 state residents hospitalized because of the virus. (Published July 22, 2022)

Suspect Charged in Threats During Zoom Funeral Service
A North Jersey juvenile has been charged with terroristic threats 18 months after he allegedly hacked into a memorial being held over Zoom and said he was planning to blow up the funeral home, South Brunswick police have announced. (Published July 16, 2022)

Cremation Rate Jumps in New Jersey; Will Continue to Rise
The rate of cremation as a form of disposition in New Jersey jumped by six percentage points between 2017 and 2021, topping 51 percent of total deaths, in a trend that shows no signs of slowing down, according to Cremation Association of North America statistics. (Published June 6, 2022)

A “Tragic” Milestone: 1 Million Dead of COVID-19
The United States has passed a grim and historic milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic: 1 million residents have died from the virus, the White House has announced. (Published May 12, 2022)

Cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey Spike
The daily average of COVID-19 positive cases has surged during the past two weeks in New Jersey by 67 percent, according to statistics provided by The New York Times. (Published April 11, 2022)

COVID-19 Deaths Top 30,000 in New Jersey
The number of confirmed and suspected deaths due to COVID-19 in New Jersey has topped 30,000 during the state’s worst month for positive cases during the pandemic that began in 2020. (Published February 4, 2022)

Temporary Refrigerated Morgues Open as COVID-19 Surges
The New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner has opened up two temporary refrigerated storage facilities because of a surge in deaths from COVID-19. (Published January 18, 2022)

Murphy Reinstates Waiver Allowing Interns to Witness Dispositions
Interns will be allowed to witness disposition in New Jersey cemeteries and crematories without a licensed funeral director present for at least another 30 days, according to executive orders signed by Governor Phil Murphy on January 11, 2022. (Published January 12, 2022)

Mortuary Board Votes to Implement In-Person CE Waiver
The State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey has voted to establish a rule waiver relaxing the requirement for in-person attendance of mandatory continuing education credits through February 28, 2023. (Published January 12, 2022)

State Warns Funeral Directors of Impending Spike in COVID Cases
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has been informed by the state Department of Health that a spike in COVID-19 cases and possible deaths is expected over the next 30 to 45 days. (Published January 10, 2022)

Waiver Allowing Interns to Witness Disposition Set to Expire on January 11, 2022
Interns unaccompanied by a licensed funeral director will no longer be allowed to witness dispositions as of January 11, 2022. (Published December 29, 2021)

COVID-19 Infections Affecting NRMEO Operations
The New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner is reporting significant staff shortages related to the increase in COVID-19 infections and exposures throughout the state’s 21 counties. (Published December 27, 2021)

Excess Death and the Future of Deathcare
Over the past year and a half, the deathcare profession has been at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen firsthand the enormous amount of excess death the pandemic has caused in the U.S. (Published December 22, 2021)

Surge in COVID-19 Cases in New Jersey Raises Alarms
New Jersey is experiencing a surge in positive diagnoses of COVID-19 infections, leading to concerns that another wave of coronavirus-related deaths may soon strike the state. (Published December 16, 2021)

COVID-19 Death Total Surpasses 800,000
The total number of U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19 has surpassed 800,000, a sobering reminder that the pandemic remains a lingering and lethal presence as it enters its third year. (Published December 15, 2021)

COVID-19 Deaths in 2021 Surpass 2020
The number of COVID-19 deaths in 2021 has surpassed the total for 2020, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Published November 24, 2021)

NJ Monthly Death Rate Rises Slightly in the Fall
The monthly count of deaths in New Jersey increased slightly in the fall of 2021 as COVID-19 cases began to rise after a sharp drop during the summer. (Published November 17, 2021)

Financial Impact of New Jersey’s Funeral Restrictions in the Millions, Analysis Shows
New Jersey’s COVID-19 funeral restrictions in the spring of 2020 had a devastating financial impact on the state’s funeral homes, according to an analysis of data conducted by New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association CEO and Executive Director George R. Kelder Jr., CFSP. (Published Published November 4, 2021)

Moderna, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Booster Shots Approved
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized public health officials to administer booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to some residents who completed their initial course of shots. (Published October 21, 2021)

"Funeral Home" Vaccination Ad Creates a Stir
It’s an interesting way of drumming up business during the COVID-19 pandemic. A digital billboard on a truck circled the city of Charlotte, NC, before a recent NFL football game told people in striking language, “Don’t Get Vaccinated.” The ad was purported to be from a “Wilmore Funeral Home” and included a link to wilmorefuneralhome.com. (Published October 13, 2021)

COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 700,000 in U.S.
The number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States has surpassed 700,000, reaching a startling milestone in the 20-month long pandemic that has taxed the nation’s healthcare system and funeral industry. (Published October 4, 2021)

New Jersey Funeral Directors Eligible for Third Pfizer Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine
New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli has directed the state’s vaccine distribution centers to immediately begin providing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination third doses to front-line workers and those with compromised immune systems. (Published September 24, 2021)

Funerals Become Places of Vaccine Advocacy in COVID-19 Hotspots
Funerals for people who died because of COVID-19 are becoming places where the value of getting inoculated against the coronavirus is being stressed. In some virus hotspots around the country, vaccine clinics are popping up at the places where services are being held. (Published September 23, 2021)

Two Disasters, Two Responses – How Funeral Directors Dealt with 9/11 and the Pandemic
Funeral directors have now coped with the challenges of two mass casualty events within the past 20 years–the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. But the work performed and the emotional toll of the two disasters were very different. (Published September 10, 2021)

9/11 – Mourning Without a Body
The images are indelible. Houses of worship crowded with attendees. A young girl whose father was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 clutching Rosary beads. Silence, save the clergy delivering what words they could in a moment no one could imagine. (Published September 7, 2021)

U.S. Life Expectancy Drops 1.5 Years from 2019 to 2020
The life expectancy of the United States population decreased by 1.5 years to 77.3 years from 2019 to 2020, a precipitous drop resulting in the lowest average age of death since 2003, according to a federal vital statistics report. (Published September 3, 2021)

Florida, Texas See Spike in Deaths, Use of Refrigerated Storage Due to COVID-19
Some southern states are seeing a rapid rise in the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 and are facing deathcare crises that mirror those New Jersey faced during the early days of the pandemic. (Published August 31, 2021)

Can NJ Funeral Homes Mandate Vaccines?
New Jersey funeral home employers can mandate an employee to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to continue employment at the funeral home, but narrow exemptions may apply to a limited group of staff and unforeseen consequences are possible. (Published August 27, 2021)

Third Dose of Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines Now Recommended
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is necessary to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong effectiveness. (Published August 23, 2021)

NJ Funeral Directors Who Responded to Poll See Increase in Rescheduled Memorial Services
Members of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association who responded to The FORUM Bulletin’s latest online poll have seen an uptick in rescheduled memorial services for those who died during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published August 13, 2021)

Delta Variant Causes Spike in COVID-19 Cases in New Jersey; Masks Recommended
The Delta variant of COVID-19 has caused a recent uptick in positive cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey and more deaths than had been reported a month ago, causing Governor Phil Murphy to recommend that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks at indoor public gatherings where there might be increased risk of infection. (Published July 28, 2021)

The 2021 Convention and Expo is On!
The 2021 Funeral Directors Convention and Expo is on! The event, hosted by the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, is scheduled to take place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. (Published June 10, 2021)

Online Poll: NJ Funeral Directors Appear Comfortable with End of Mask Mandate
The majority of New Jersey funeral directors who answered a poll in the Tuesday, June 1, 2021 FORUM Bulletin appear to be comfortable with Governor Phil Murphy’s decision to allow fully vaccinated residents to stop wearing masks at indoor events. (Published June 4, 2021)

Thanexus Highlights Pandemic Response in State of the Industry Report
Navigating a global public health crisis and an unprecedented spike in death rates in New Jersey, Thanexus provided clear direction to its shareholders for conducting business in a pandemic while still supplying outstanding day-to-day business service in 2020, according to the cooperative’s annual State of the Industry report. (Published June 3, 2021)

Perspectives
Following on New Jersey’s recent relaxation of requiring masks indoors for fully vaccinated people, a funeral home’s decision to either follow suit, make it a business requirement or option to continue wearing masks, or ask the next of kin what their preference may be is now in order. (Published June 1, 2021)

NJSFDA Successful in Pandemic Waiver Continuation
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has been successful in obtaining the State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey’s approval to continue recognizing several regulatory waivers, modifications and statutory interpretations implemented during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published June 1, 2021)

Time to Reflect
Do you know what time it is? It’s time to sit back in that big old leather chair, put your hands behind your head, close your eyes and reflect on how you and your staff’s lives have changed, along with your business, since January 21, 2020 when the first case of COVID-19 in the United States was confirmed. (Published June 1, 2021)

Deaths in NJ Remain Higher Than the Statistical Norm
The number of deaths in New Jersey during April 2021 remained higher than the statistical norm, the sixth straight month of elevated fatalities as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt by the state’s residents. (Published May 28, 2021)

Deaths in NJ Remain Higher Than the Statistical Norm
The number of deaths in New Jersey during April 2021 remained higher than the statistical norm, the sixth straight month of elevated fatalities as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt by the state’s residents. (Published May 28, 2021)

NJ Funeral Restrictions Further Loosened
Effective Friday, May 28, 2021 the indoor wearing of masks and six-foot social distancing requirements become optional during all New Jersey funerals and memorial events. (Published May 25, 2021)

No Masks for Vaccinated New Jerseyans as of May 28, 2021
Those who have been fully vaccinated will not have to wear masks at indoor gatherings nor will they need to maintain social distancing of six feet as of Friday, May 28, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy has announced. (Published May 24, 2021)

Union County Medical Examiner Using Rahway Funeral Home for Storage of Remains
The Union County Medical Examiner Office has contracted with Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home in Rahway to handle the storage overflow of remains from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. (Published May 20, 2021)

Travel Advisory and Quarantine Period Lifted in New Jersey
New Jersey is no longer requiring a quarantine period on travelers either visiting or returning to the state from other areas of the country. (Published May 17, 2021)

Murphy Announces Plans to Let Health Emergency Declaration Expire
Governor Phil Murphy and the leaders of the New Jersey Legislature have announced plans to end the state’s 14-month-long public health emergency, contingent on legislation that would help the government continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published May 15, 2021)

May 19, 2021 Funeral Capacity Limits Will Change Little
The Governor’s Office has announced that effective May 19, 2021 the current 250-person maximum limit at funeral and memorial events will remain in place but will no longer be affected by the 50 percent capacity limit also currently in place on funeral home buildings and places of worship. Individuals and groups must still remain six feet apart. (Published May 3, 2021)

Investments
As each of us begins to catch our breath, while the trials experienced these past 12 months remain fresh in our minds, consider several investment opportunities that may be beneficial to our professional and personal lives. (Published May 1, 2021)

With Warmer Weather Comes Change
April showers bring May flowers, garage sales and the start of lawn cutting and landscaping. And the list goes on. (Published May 1, 2021)

All Six NJ Vaccination Mega Sites Now Open for Walk-Ins
All six of New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination mega sites will now be accepting walk-ins, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. (Published April 30, 2021)

Number of Deaths in New Jersey Remains Elevated
The number of deaths in New Jersey remains elevated over statistical norms, a sign of the COVID-19 pandemic’s ongoing impact on the state’s funeral homes. (Published April 23, 2021)

CDC Warns of Potential Shortage of Sharps Disposal Containers
Funeral directors should be aware of an unforeseen but logical consequence of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign: A shortage of sharps disposal containers may be developing. (Published April 2, 2021)

Fingers Crossed
As you have no doubt heard or read, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association is tentatively moving forward with plans to hold an in-person Funeral Directors Convention and Expo in September. (Published April 1, 2021)

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Bill Passes Senate Committee
A New Jersey Senate committee has passed legislation that would establish a $20 million fund to help defray funeral expenses incurred by families of those who died because of the coronavirus. (Published March 16, 2021)

NJSFDA Plans to Hold Annual Convention as Survey Shows Support for Attending Event
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association is moving ahead with plans to hold an in-person Convention and Expo in September 2021, depending on the relaxation of gathering restrictions still in place for casinos in Atlantic City. (Published March 15, 2021)

Survey Shows Outsized Impact of Virus Among NJ Funeral Directors
At least 32 New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association members have tested positive for COVID-19 during the year-long pandemic and three were hospitalized, according to a survey conducted recently by the association. (Published March 15, 2021)

Funeral Service Remains a Constant Despite Pandemic Disruptions
In the year since COVID-19 swept across the United States and left more than 500,000 dead, our society has been altered, bringing unwanted changes to the way we live and the way we handle death. (Published March 5, 2021)

One Year
The first known U.S. COVID-19 death occurred in February 2020, and by May 27, 100,000 people had died. It took four months for our nation to log another 100,000 deaths; about three months for the next; just five weeks for 100,000 more. And now we have surpassed 500,000 as we enter our second year of living through a pandemic. (Published March 1, 2021)

Small Funeral Homes May Benefit from New PPP Eligibility Window
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has ordered changes to the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which could prove beneficial to small funeral homes in New Jersey. (Published February 25, 2021)

Indoor Funeral Attendance Limits Relaxed Again; Now at 50 Percent Capacity
Governor Phil Murphy has once again relaxed restrictions on attendance at funerals and other religious services, a move that will allow funeral homes to host more mourners than at any time since limits were first implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published February 23, 2021)

Murphy Extends Public Health Emergency Nearly a Year After Pandemic Began
New Jersey will officially have been under a state of emergency for a year during the time Governor Phil Murphy’s latest executive order, signed to extend the public health emergency on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, is in effect. (Published February 19, 2021)

New Jersey Deaths Continue to Spike in 2021
New Jersey’s monthly death toll continues to be higher than in previous years, with the January 2021 number more than 1,300 deaths higher than in any January of the last six years. (Published February 17, 2021)

New Jersey Makes PPP Loans Exempt from State Taxes
Taking a cue from the federal government, New Jersey has made Paycheck Protection Program loans exempt from state taxes and will allow loan recipients to deduct business expenses paid with the PPP funds. (Published February 12, 2021)

New OSHA Guidance on Workplace Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued new guidance to increase workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published February 10, 2021)

German Study Suggests COVID-19 Infectivity Likely After Death
In January 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, research letter titled, Postmortem Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in Nasopharyngeal Mucosa. (Published February 5, 2021)

Massachusetts Funeral Directors Still Can’t Get Vaccines, but Medical Examiner Workers Can
Massachusetts funeral directors are still unable to receive COVID-19 vaccinations despite a recent decision by the state to allow Office of the Chief Medical Examiner personnel to be inoculated. (Published February 17, 2021)

Murphy Eases Limits on Gatherings, Including Funerals
Governor Phil Murphy has signed an executive order relaxing restrictions on indoor gatherings based on the capacity of the facility. (Published February 4, 2021)

Another Tool
As COVID-19 fatalities rise, taxing our businesses yet remaining somewhat manageable, and funeral homes increasingly report their concerns over dealing with COVID positive next of kin, the vaccine delivery efforts throughout New Jersey have unfortunately been disorganized, disjointed, chaotic, frustrating, fragmented and haphazard to date. (Published February 1, 2021)

400,000 Dead: How Do We Mourn in a Pandemic?
Four hundred lights cast a soft glow across the surface of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., on the night of Tuesday, January 19, 2021, each representing a portion of the now more than 400,000 lives lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging the country. (Published January 22, 2021)

PPP Accepting New Round of Loan Applications
A federal program designed to help small businesses meet their payroll expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic is once again taking applications for low-interest loans. (Published January 19, 2021)

States Struggle to Prioritize Funeral Directors for COVID-19 Vaccine
While New Jersey funeral directors are listed as Phase 1A for the COVID-19 vaccine, the phase allocated for high-risk healthcare workers who are currently able to be inoculated, other states continue to struggle to get the same classification for funeral home personnel. (Published January 19, 2021)

State Opens Preregistration Web Page for COVID-19 Vaccinations

New Jersey has opened a web page that will allow people to preregister for COVID-19 vaccinations as they become available. (Published January 6, 2021)

Thanexus Members Urged to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
In a recent communication sent to Thanexus shareholders, Thanexus Chair Timothy W. Brock, CFSP, and Vice Chair R. Michael Gallaway urged all potentially exposed funeral home staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available within their respective counties. (Published January 6, 2021)

Living Universal Precautions
As every funeral director is aware, universal precautions are an approach to infection control that treats all body fluid and other potentially infectious material as if it contains bloodborne pathogens. Our annual mandatory Occupational Health and Safety Administration training teaches us that we must treat every dead body as if it will kill us regardless of who it is or the cause and manner of their death. (Published January 1, 2021)

New COVID-19 Relief Package Contains More PPP Small Business Loans
Funeral directors will be eligible for another round of Paycheck Protection Program funds under the latest stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by President Donald J. Trump on Sunday, December 27, 2020. (Published December 28, 2020)

Largest NJ Immunization Campaign in History
Following the expert federal and state determination that “known and potential benefits” outweigh the related risks associated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, New Jersey officials are preparing to launch what is likely the largest immunization campaign in history. (Published December 11, 2020)

Deep Discounts Available Temporarily Through State Program
A state program designed to provide businesses such as funeral homes with access to needed personal protective equipment is temporarily offering deep discounts on purchases of PPE. (Published December 2, 2020)

Hundreds of Bodies Still Stored in NYC Refrigerated Trucks
Several hundred bodies placed in refrigerated trucks in New York City during the spring height of the COVID-19 pandemic are still there, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. (Published December 2, 2020)

Brooklyn, NY, Funeral Home Ordered Closed for Allowing Bodies to Decompose During Pandemic
A Brooklyn, NY, funeral home cited for allowing decomposing bodies to pile up in unrefrigerated trucks outside the facility during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been ordered closed by the New York state health commissioner, according to The New York Times. (Published November 24, 2020)

Possible Delays in Determining Eligibility for Burials in Veterans Cemeteries
The National Cemetery Administration is warning funeral directors that there may be delays in obtaining military documents needed to determine burial eligibility in veterans cemeteries. (Published November 18, 2020)

Funeral Gathering Exemption Remains in Place Despite New Limitations
Although Governor Phil Murphy is lowering New Jersey’s limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings as COVID-19 cases continue to surge leading into the holiday season, the current funeral and place of worship restrictions remain in place. (Published November 16, 2020)

PPE Available Through State Program, District Associations
As COVID-19 cases continue to spike in New Jersey, funeral directors may find themselves in need of personal protective equipment or may wish to stock up on PPE in preparation for an increased caseload. (Published November 13, 2020)

New Executive Order Mandates Worker Protection Measures During Pandemic
Governor Phil Murphy has signed a new executive order mandating employers to provide worker and consumer protection measures, including mandatory daily health assessments for employees, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published November 2, 2020)

Last Responder
“Last responder” is, in my opinion, one of the worst nicknames ever given to funeral service. Because as funeral directors, typically, the only thing that we tend to do last is to care for ourselves–physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. (Published November 1, 2020)

What Are Your Obligations with Contact Tracing?
Cases of COVID-19 are once again on the rise. What should you do, then, if the state requests information from your funeral home for contact tracing of a possible transmission of the coronavirus? (Published October 20, 2020)

Working from Home: Protection from Increasing Cyber Threats
Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a staple for almost everyone over the past months. By now, most of us have adapted to the work-from-home lifestyle. However, workers are not the only ones who have adapted. (Published October 19, 2020)

Funeral Directors Prioritized to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has designated funeral home personnel as among the first line of critical workers who will get a COVID-19 vaccine once one becomes available. (Published October 6, 2020)

PPE Supplies Available from Medical Supplier
During the spring 2020 spike in COVID-19 deaths, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association secured and purchased more than $65,000 in personal protective equipment from non-mortuary suppliers and distributed it to the districts. (Published October 2, 2020)

Assist Your Families in Meaningful Ways
As of this publication, the death rate due to COVID-19 in New Jersey is at its lowest number since the beginning of the pandemic. This would be a good time, with the holiday season just a few months away, to reach out to the families you served during the pandemic who were unable to have a proper funeral. (Published October 1, 2020)

COVID-19—Six Months Later
On March 21, 2020 Governor Phil Murphy shut down all non-essential businesses and effectively closed the state for business. Everything changed. (Published September 15, 2020)

NJ Death Rate May Have Returned to Normal
The monthly number of deaths in New Jersey has shrunk from an all-time high in April to well within historical norms, indicating progress in the state’s battle against the coronavirus that has taken the lives of more than 14,000 residents. (Published September 10, 2020)

Guidance Issued on Social Security Payroll Tax Deferrals
The Internal Revenue Service has issued guidelines to accompany an early August Presidential Memorandum issued by President Donald J. Trump that authorized the deferral of Social Security payroll taxes between September 1 and December 31, 2020. (Published September 3, 2020)

Travel Advisory Update
New Jersey has issued an incoming travel advisory for individuals traveling from states with a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. This advisory has many funeral directors asking what their obligation is when they know their funeral homes will receive mourners from out of state. (Published September 2, 2020)

Remote but Not Removed
On Friday, March 20, 2020 I along with other senior managers formally announced to the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association staff, that we had every reason to believe this new unknown virus, COVID-19, was about to descend upon us in ways we had never experienced before, and that “stay-at-home” orders would most likely be announced by the governor soon. (Published September 1, 2020)

Message from the President: My Pledge
What happened in early March to our country, our lives, our family’s lives, members of our communities and our profession altered reality such that it’s hard to imagine we will ever return to “normalcy” as we knew it. (Published September 1, 2020)

Murphy Eases Limits on Indoor Funeral Gatherings
Limits on attendance at indoor funerals in New Jersey have been eased, with gatherings of 150 people or 25 percent of capacity, whichever number is fewer, being allowed as of Friday, September 4, 2020, according to Governor Phil Murphy. (Published August 31, 2020)

NRMEO to Require Appointments for Release of Bodies
The Northern Regional Medical Examiner Office will require scheduled appointments for the release of bodies at its Newark facility as of August 3, 2020. (Published July 23, 2020)

Don’t Let the Value of a Funeral Be Underestimated
Whether you call it a funeral, life celebration or memorial service, the ritual of remembrance serves to bring people together to help one another through grief. (Published July 15, 2020)

Hours of Operation for NRMEO
The Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, which serves Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Somerset counties, has announced new hours during which it will release bodies to funeral homes. (Published July 14, 2020)

Funeral Directors Required to Wear Masks at Outdoor Gatherings
New restrictions on outdoor gatherings announced by Governor Phil Murphy on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 will mean that funeral home staff must wear masks during services that take place outside. (Published July 9, 2020)

Stay the Course
My late father was a proud Korean Conflict Navy man, a “Tin Can Sailor” as assignments to destroyers were called. Whenever he wanted us to remain focused and diligent in our efforts, he would simply remind us to “stay the course.” (Published July 1, 2020)

The Way We Care
A family of ours lost a loved one. This happened while we are easing out of the state’s shelter in place with disjointed arrangements. The family is not necessarily able to choose the funeral they were thinking of having. Layer on to that the possibility of either having been out of work or just returning after some time away. There was mass confusion. (Published July 6, 2020)

Arlington Relaxes Burial Service Restrictions
Restrictions on military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery have been relaxed, and more mourners will be permitted to attend ceremonies at the nation’s premier veteran’s cemetery. (Published July 2, 2020)

Arneytown to Resume Holding Committal Services
The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown will resume conducting burial services and military funeral honors beginning Wednesday, June 17, 2020. (Published June 16, 2020)

During COVID-19 Pandemic, a Rise in Cremations
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several changes in the way funeral directors conduct business. Still, none may be as significant as the rise in the number of cremations during the crisis. (Published June 8, 2020)

Compassion Fatigue During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Since the coronavirus crisis began, funeral directors have been in the trenches caring for and helping an abundance of families inside and outside of their communities. You have dedicated your lives to helping others cope and get through their loss. You are valued, and it is essential to remember your health and lives are important, too. (Published June 8, 2020)

NJ Statistics Show Progress in COVID-19 Fight; Pandemic Not Over Yet
The monthly number of deaths in New Jersey dropped significantly in May 2020 from an all-time high in April 2020, showing that progress is being made in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published June 5, 2020)

When Can You be Around Others After You Had or Likely Have Had COVID-19?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses that if you have or think you might have COVID-19, it is important to stay home and away from other people. (Published June 1, 2020)

Expectations
I cannot decide if things are beginning to slow down or, if after too many weeks of intense pressure, we have become so accustomed to the increased time, hours, and workload that it feels that way. (Published June 1, 2020)

CDC Issues Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance for people making funeral arrangements and participating in funeral services and visitations. (published May 29, 2020)

Be Aware of Quarantine Restrictions When Transporting Remains to Another State
When taking a body to another state for services or disposition, New Jersey funeral directors are aware of the need to check body-transport regulations in the state(s) they are traveling to and through. (Published May 29, 2020)

Analysis Indicates a Significant Undercount of COVID-19 Deaths in NJ
New Jersey deaths from COVID-19 may be undercounted by as much as 32 percent, according to a recent newspaper analysis of mortality data. (Published May 28, 2020)

COVID-19 Pandemic Changes Funeral Service Expectation
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way funeral homes conduct business and relate to the families they serve. A recent survey shows that some of those changes may be here to stay. (Published May, 28 2020)

All Members Urged to Restock PPE through NJSFDA District Stockpiles
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has purchased and delivered supplies and personal protective equipment to select district associations and arranged for two deliveries from the New Jersey State Police, Office of Emergency Management, stockpile. (Published May 21, 2020)

Insured Will Finally See Some Premium Relief
In response to the severe financial hardships that businesses and individuals throughout New Jersey are dealing with due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has issued Bulletin No. 20-22 requiring insurers to provide premium relief to policyholders in selected lines of insurance. (Published May 18, 2020)

Important Update on NJSFDA Efforts to Aid Members During the Pandemic
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has been working hard to mitigate some of the concerns of its member firms and alleviate the stresses many are feeling during the pandemic. (Published May 11, 2020)

Six District FDAs to Receive PPE
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has procured a limited amount of personal protective equipment, which will be distributed among the six district associations hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published May 8, 2020)

NJ Statistics Show Sobering Impact of COVID-19
The number of resident deaths in New Jersey during April 2020 was nearly double that of March 2020 and was more than the totals of January and February of this year combined, according to provisional statistics released by the state Department of Health. (Published May 7, 2020)

CDC Provides Updated Guidelines for COVID-19 Transport of Remains
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated guidelines for the transportation of human remains to now include a recommended minimum thickness of body-bag materials. (Published May 5, 2020)

Mortuary Board Issues Clarification on Funeral Restrictions
A state advisory has been issued clarifying several of the recently announced limits on funeral services during the COVID-19 pandemic and easing the restrictions on families being in the presence of decedent in an open casket. (Published May1, 2020)

Emergency Rule Modification Allows Interns to Witness Dispositions
A new administrative order and temporary rule modification adopted by Division of Consumer Affairs permits interns registered with the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science who are engaged in learning the practice of mortuary science under the supervision of a licensed practitioner to be present at the time of disposition in lieu of a licensed practitioner. (Published May 1, 2020)

NJSFDA Members Can Now Purchase PPE on Amazon Business
The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has just negotiated approval from Amazon Business, enabling member funeral homes access to Amazon’s secure COVID-19 site. This site, which can be accessed only by health-care representatives and other essential providers, has PPE and other items available for sale. (Published April 28, 2020)

Tightened Funeral Restrictions Announced 4.22.2020
Effective immediately, all funeral homes are operating under newly issued Executive Directive No. 20-010 placing significant new restrictions on licensees during the remainder of the State of Emergency. (Published April 23, 2020)

Tips for Effective Communication During the Pandemic
During a pandemic such as the spread of COVID-19, it can be difficult to discern between wild rumor and basic, incontrovertible facts. (Published April 27, 2020)

Contract with NY Licensee BEFORE Body Transfer
Although a reciprocal agreement allows New Jersey licensed funeral directors to remove human remains from the state of New York, New Jersey funeral homes should secure a New York funeral director who will handle the filing of a New York death certificate and necessary paperwork BEFORE transferring remains to New Jersey. (Published April 16, 2020)

Important Member Update—April 14, 2020
For the past month, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association leadership and staff have focused on the urgent priorities facing individual funeral directors and firms. (Published April 14, 2020)

Under Pressure
This past month has been extremely difficult for us all. We are under tremendous pressure personally and professionally, working under conditions none of us expected to experience in our lifetimes. (Published April 14, 2020)

State Registrar Explains Possible Delays for DCs
The New Jersey State Registrar has informed the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association that the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry is currently processing five times the number of orders for certified death certificates than are typically received in one day, due to local registrar closures. (Published April 20, 2020)

Updated Guidance on Listing COVID-19 on Death Certificates
As of April 15, 2020, the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry has provided updated guidance on how the cause of death should be entered on a death certificate in which a decedent has either been confirmed positive for COVID-19 or is suspected of being positive for the virus. (Published April 16, 2020)

NJDEP Lifts Limits on Crematory Operating Hours, Emissions
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has lifted limits on crematory operating hours and air emissions for the facilities to better cope with the increasing caseloads caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published on April 13, 2020)

Mutual Aid During COVID-19 Pandemic
Mutual aid is “a voluntary reciprocal exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit.” New Jersey funeral directors are encouraged to embrace this concept now and respond, if possible, to our most heavily burdened funeral homes. (Published April 8, 2020)

Breakdown of Positive COVID-19 Exposure by District FDA
New Jersey has recorded more than 50,000 positive cases of exposure to COVID-19, with the majority of those cases tallied in northern New Jersey. (Published April 10, 2020)

NJEDA to Take Applications for Small Business Loan Program
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will begin taking applications for the Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program at 9 a.m. Monday, April 13, 2020. (Published April9, 2020)

CDC Advises on Use of Cloth Facemasks
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance for the use of cloth facemasks for those who may need to venture outside their homes. (Published April 7, 2020)

Good Grief Help Engage Families During Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, children, like adults, can be worried that they or the people they love will die. Good Grief, a children’s grief center in New Jersey, recognizes the fear, grief and anxiety some children may experience during this time of crisis. (published April 6, 2020)

Consider Alternative NJ Crematories
With the increased usage of local crematories, funeral homes may want to consider alternate facilities if they are experiencing delays in the ability to drop off remains in a timely fashion for cremation. (Updated April 9, 2020)

Governor Allows E-Signatures for Funeral Arrangements
Governor Phil Murphy has permitted the use of electronic signatures for the funeral agreements and authorizations of dispositions during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. (Published April 1, 2020)

Positioning Your Funeral Business in the Age of COVID-19
As the coronavirus is gripping the country (and the world) medically, it’s also infecting the flow of business, including those who are engaged in serving families at the time of loss. We’ve had to quickly make changes to our clients’ websites and digital media as everyone is trying to navigate this crisis without precedent. (Published March 27, 2020)

Scams in the Time of COVID-19
Funeral homes are advised to be on alert about potential scams. One example is from a business purporting to be a disinfecting company. (Published March 26, 2020)

NJ Updates Communicable Disease Alert Form to include COVID-19
The New Jersey Department of Health has updated its communicable diseases alert form to include COVID-19. (Published March 25, 2020)

Securing Authorizations from Families Under Quarantine
The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly, with new updates occurring frequently. As the situation of quarantining evolves, funeral home owners are asking what steps they should take to secure authorizations from the individual(s) with right to control when they cannot meet in person. (Published March 22, 2020)

NJSFDA Issues Memorandum on COVID-19 Removal Protocols
Contagious Disease Cases, Funeral Director, Mortuaries (Funeral Homes) COVID-19 The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association has issued a memorandum to all members regarding the transfer/removal of decedents who are suspected of dying from the coronavirus (COVID-19). (Published March 20, 2020)

EDRS Will Remain Functional Even if State Offices Close for Coronavirus Threat
Funeral directors and health professionals will be able to fully access New Jersey’s Electronic Death Registration System in order to initiate death certificates even if state offices close because of the coronavirus threat, according to a memorandum sent by the New Jersey State Registrar. (Published March 16, 2020)

MRMEO Limits Hours (UPDATED)
Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Middlesex Regional Medical Examiner’s Office (MRMEO) which serves Middlesex, Monmouth and Mercer counties, will release bodies to funeral homes between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 7 days a week. On weekdays only, body releases after those hours can be made by appointment by calling 732.745.3190. (Updated March 18, 2020)

NJSFDA COVID-19 Guidelines
The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration has classified mortuary and morgue workers as high risk and extremely high risk in a new guidance document for workplaces concerned with exposure to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. (Published March 11, 2020)

CDC Recommends Guidance in Handling Bodies Potentially Exposed to Coronavirus
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance for the handling of human remains that may have been exposed to the coronavirus currently spreading across the globe. (Published February 28, 2020)

Executive & Administrative Orders

Executive Order No. 225
This order raises indoor capacity limits from 35 percent to 50 percent for funerals and other religious services.

Executive Order No. 222
This executive order extends the public health emergency in New Jersey another 30 days. All existing administrative orders and executive directives concerning the COVID-19 pandemic remain effect.

Executive Order No. 219
This order raises indoor capacity limits from 25 percent to 35 percent, with a maximum of 150 people, for certain businesses, including funeral homes.

Executive Order No. 192
This order mandates that employers provide certain worker and consumer protection measures, including mandatory daily health assessments for employees, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Order No. 173
This order decreases the indoor gathering capacity limit but exempts funeral from that limit. The previous limits of 25 percent of capacity or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is the smaller number, is still in effect for funerals.

Executive Order No. 163
This order requires individuals to wear masks in outdoor public spaces when they cannot follow social distancing mandates.

Executive Order No. 156
This order increases the limits on indoor gatherings to 25 percent of facility capacity, or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is the smaller number, and outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people.

Executive Order No. 152
This order increases the limits on indoor gatherings to 25 percent of facility capacity, or a maximum of 50 people, whichever is the smaller number and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people.

Executive Order No. 148
This order raises the limit of individuals allowed at outdoor gatherings from 10 to 25. Social distancing guidelines remain in place.

Executive Order No. 138
This order extends the State of Emergency in New Jersey another 30 days. All existing administrative orders and executive directives concerning the COVID-19 pandemic remain effect

Executive Directive No. 20-010
This Executive Directive, signed April 22, 2020 by Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, outlines new procedures for the handling of human remains and forbids the holding of in-person viewings, visitations or ceremonies with an open casket. All other visitations or ceremonies must comply with current limitations on gatherings.

Executive Order No. 112
This order establishes that the signature requirements for funeral arrangements and authorizations can be met by the provision of electronic signatures for the duration of the State of Emergency or Public Health Emergency, whichever is longer. (Published April 2, 2020)

Administrative Order No. 2020-4
This order clarified that gatherings of 10 persons or fewer are presumed to be in compliance with the terms and intentions of Executive Order No. 107, unless clear evidence exists to the contrary. (Published April 2, 2020)

Executive Order No. 107 on State of Emergency
The latest executive order from Governor Phil Murphy, signed on March 21, 2020, orders the closure of non-essential businesses and limits all citizens to essential travel only. All New Jersey residents are ordered to remain in their residences and not gather publicly. This superceeds all executive orders related to social distancing. (Published March 21, 2020)

Executive Order No. 103
Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order on March 9, 2020, declaring a state of emergency, allowing the state Director of Emergency Management to take measures to protect public safety and outlawing price gouging.

Helpful Links

COVID-19 Communication for New Jersey Cemeteries and Mortuaries – October 2021

Request for Funeral Industry Considerations During COVID-19 State of Emergency
(Published March 23, 2020)

The CDC is offering information for both the public and funeral professionals concerning exposure to COVID-19 from human remains and funeral services. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#funerals

This CDC link answers frequently asked questions about personal protective equipment and COVID-19 and lists other information concerning PPE. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/healthcare-supply-ppe-index.html

The CDC puts forward guidelines on postmortem activities, including specimen gathering and autopsies. Some of the information contained here is also useful for funeral directors when handling human remains. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-postmortem-specimens.html

This New Jersey Department of Health link provides general information on the COVID-19 virus, self-protection tips, what to do if you feel sick and preparing your family during the pandemic. https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

The State Department of Health provides a daily county-by-county tally of COVID-19 cases, plus information on the number of calls to the state’s coronavirus hotline. https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention link provides information on the spread of the virus in the United States, along with guidance for health care professionals and those who handle human remains. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

The World Health Organization provides news on the latest in research and development, virus containment and personal protection. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

This CDC link contains recommendations concerning large gatherings, including when to consider postponing or canceling events. Please note the recommended limit for gatherings has now been lowered to 50 people. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html

The CDC has issued guidelines for health care professionals concerning infection control. A number of these guidelines are useful for funeral industry professionals as well. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Finfection-control.html

FUNERAL HOME VACCINES BY COUNTY

ATLANTIC COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://www.atlantic-county.org/covid/covid-vaccinations.asp.

BERGEN COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at bergencovidvaccine.com. In completing the online appointment form your answer to question #1 should be “1a–Health Care Workers or EMS.”

BURLINGTON COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/burlingtoncountyvaccines.

CAMDEN COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled by calling 888.253.9133.

CAPE MAY COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled by visiting https:/vaccination.atlanticare.org.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at http://www.co.cumberland.nj.us/ccdoh.

ESSEX COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at www.EssexCOVID.org or 973.877.8456.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled by calling 888.253.9133.

HUDSON COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://www.hudsoncovidvax.org/vax/registration using the confidential password of vaxCOVID19.

HUNTERDON COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44A4AF23A3F5C25-covid or through the Hunterdon Healthcare Vaccine Call Center by calling 908.237.4238.

MERCER COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled through the Hunterdon Healthcare Vaccine Call Center by calling 908.237.4238.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php? owner=19830283 appointmentType=category: Phase 1a Priority.

MONMOUTH COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/MonmouthCountyCOVID19Vaccination@mcsonj.org/bookings/.

MORRIS COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled through the Morris County Regional Vaccination Center by visiting https://bit.ly/3onkSkC.

OCEAN COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://www.ochd.org/covid19-vaccine/. Once on the landing page, complete tp>he registration form, review the required vaccine documentation and then click the red “Click here to Book Online” button for appointment scheduling.

PASSAIC COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at passaiccountyvax.org.

SALEM COUNTY
Funeral home personnel who live and/or work in Salem County are now eligible to make reservations to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the Gloucester County Mega Site by calling 888.253.9133.

SOMERSET COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled through the Hunterdon Healthcare Vaccine Call Center at 908.237.4238.

SUSSEX COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled through the Morris County Regional Vaccination Center by visiting https://bit.ly/3onkSkC.

UNION COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://ucnj.org/covid19/covid-19-vaccination/ or call 908.518.4307.

WARREN COUNTY
Appointments for funeral home personnel can be scheduled at https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/cn4yzzk2 or through the Hunterdon Healthcare Vaccine Call Center by calling 908.237.4238.

MEGA SITES

ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY and CUMBERLAND
Atlantic City Convention Center
1 Convention Boulevard (use underground parking)
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

BERGEN, ESSEX, HUDSON and UNION
Racetrack at Meadowlands Complex
1 Racetrack Drive East
East Rutherford, NJ 07073

BURLINGTON, MERCER and OCEAN
Burlington County Mega Site
Moorestown Mall (Lord & Taylor Building)
400 & 401 NJ-38
Moorestown, NJ 08057

CAMDEN, GLOUCESTER and SALEM
Gloucester County Mega Site
Rowan College of South Jersey
Instructional Center, Parking Lot E (map can be found here)
1400 Tanyard Road, Sewell, NJ 08080

HUNTERDON, MIDDLESEX, MONMOUTH and SOMERSET
Middlesex County Mega Site
New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837

MORRIS, PASSAIC, SUSSEX and WARREN
Morris County Regional Vaccination Center
Rockaway Townsquare
(former Sears building, lower level, closest to Macy’s and Raymour & Flanigan)
301 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rockaway, NJ 07866

STATEWIDE LIST OF VACCINATION SITES

New Jersey has a list of sites where healthcare workers, including funeral home staff, can receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Those seeking inoculations should call first to inquire about eligibility and availability. List as of 3/29/21.

A green cremation machine comes to a mortuary school. Caskets made of mushrooms are being “grown” in the Netherlands. And the body of a nun who died four years ago shows no sign of decay, prompting an investigation by Catholic authorities. These stories and more are in the week in funeral news.

NEWS

A Startup Is “Growing” Coffins Made of Mushrooms
By Britney Nguyen (Associated Press)
For those seeking to live in the most sustainable way, there now is an afterlife too. A Dutch intrepid inventor is now "growing" coffins by putting mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, together with hemp fiber in a special mold that, in a week, turns into what could basically be compared to the looks of an unpainted Egyptian sarcophagus. Read more here.

Cincinnati's College of Mortuary Science Gets the Greenest Machine to Teach Students
By Ann Thompson (WVXU)
The number of people choosing cremation is increasing dramatically. It's gone from 5 percent in the 1970s to 57 percent today, and the trend isn't expected to slow down until it hits 80 percent. The process isn't that environmentally friendly, but cremation technology is advancing. The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science is getting the greenest machine sold, which takes half the time and creates a smaller carbon footprint. Read more here.

Indiana Funeral Director Admits Theft after Decomposing Bodies Found
By the Associated Press
The director of a southern Indiana funeral home where 31 decomposing bodies and the cremains of 17 others were found has pleaded guilty to more than 40 counts of felony theft. Read more here.

People Are Flocking to See Body of Nun Four Years after Her Burial
By CNN
Hundreds of people have travelled to a monastery in rural Missouri to view a nun's body which appears to show no signs of decay approximately four years after her death. Read more here.

Operation to Prevent Looting Has Led to Discovery of Burial Caves in Israel
By Heritage Daily
A joint operation to prevent the looting of antiquities by police and the Israel Antiquities Authority theft prevention unit has led to the discovery of a burial caves near Kafr Kanna in Galilee, Israel. Read more here.

TikTok sensation: “Fascination with the Dead Made Me Become a Mortuary Attendant”
By Mercy Koskei (Nation)
From a tender age, she always wanted to be a nurse to take care of the sick, but now, she says, spending the day with dead bodies puts food on her table. Read more here.

Members of the Northeast Funeral Service Partnership met in New Paltz, NY, recently to discuss a variety of issues affecting funeral directors in the member states.

The NFSP, made up of funeral directors associations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, was formed to develop common approaches to funeral service issues facing professionals in the region and nation.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting were the legislative and regulatory initiatives at play in each state, alternative forms of disposition such as alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction, and retention and recruitment efforts.

The members also were given a recap of a recent meeting the partnership had with the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and the American Board of Funeral Service Education, in which potential steps to ensure the educational and testing reforms needed to maintain the viability of the funeral profession were discussed.

The future structure of the partnership was also a topic, along with license reciprocity among the five states, the 2023 member survey and a 2024 five-state membership meeting.

The New Jersey attendees at the meeting were New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association Executive Director and CEO George R. Kelder Jr., President Alison Perinchief Reinhard, President Elect Frank R. Galante, 1st Vice President Tara M. Scarponi-Danniballe, 2nd Vice President Ryan M. Buckland and Secretary/Treasurer John K. Baltz.

InSight Books and Certified Celebrants, a provider of informational resources and celebrant training for funeral directors throughout North America, has been purchased by Osiris Software.

Osiris, which creates management software for funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories, announced the purchase, which will merge two companies created to aid the funeral industry.

InSight Books was founded in 1983 by Doug Manning to provide resources for those in the funeral industry. InSight also branched out into celebrant training. Glenda S. Stansbury, MA, CFSP, the well-known celebrant trainer, is Manning’s daughter and the vice president of InSight.

“We are excited to be a part of Osiris Software and look forward to continuing to support funeral directors and cemeterians in the vital services they provide to grieving families,” Stansbury said.

Osiris, founded in 2009 by Kris Gray and Kara Gray Ludlum, siblings who are also second-generation funeral directors, provides business software for the funeral industry. The software was initially developed by Ben Adams for Gray and Ludlum’s family funeral homes. Adams, Gray, Ludlum and Mart Ludlum, another founder, are still part of the company.

“Osiris and InSight are both family owned and operated companies. The missions of each company integrate beautifully to strengthen our commitment to support funeral homes and cemeteries across the United States and Canada,” said Gray, the CEO of Osiris.

Manning will continue to develop content for InSight, and Stansbury and her four sisters will remain involved with the company as well.

The Federal Trade Commission will hold a special in-person workshop in September 2023 for those seeking to give input on the proposed changes to the Funeral Rule.

The workshop will be held at the Constitution Center Conference Center at 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC, 20024 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on September 7, 2023, according to a notice distributed by the FTC. The event will also be webcast live.

The workshop will discuss items raised in the FTC’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including:

• online or electronic disclosures of price information
• new forms of disposition of human remains
• the general price list mandated by the rule
• disclosure of third-party crematory fees
• potential requirement of making GPLs available in languages other than English

Those seeking to participate as a panelist must apply by June 19, 2023 by sending an email to funeralrule@ftc.gov or by mail to Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite CC–5610 (Annex F), Washington, DC 20580. Include “Funeral Rule Workshop, Project No. P034410” in your request.

The correspondence should include a brief statement describing the person’s expertise in the matter to be discussed and their contact information, including telephone number and email address.

The FTC will notify applicants on whether they were chosen for the panel on or before August 16, 2023.

Those wishing to submit comments concerning the proposed changes can do so online at https://www.regulations.gov/.

All comments made and received will become part of the public record.

The FTC published the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in November 2022. Most prominent in the proposed changes would be a requirement for funeral homes to place their General Price Lists online.