Local Funeral Homes Take Extra Precautions During Outbreak

Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive order to close all nonessential businesses in Maryland by 5 p.m. Monday to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Under Hogan’s new order, funeral homes and crematoriums are considered essential businesses under the Healthcare and Public Health Sector and can remain open. 

Many funeral homes in Montgomery County are taking increased public safety measures in response to the virus while still operating. Below is a list of eight funeral homes in the county that announced their actions. 

Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes, Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Rockville 

• Increased cleaning 
• Encouraging people to double-check scheduled services as many are opting for smaller services 

Roy W. Barber Funeral Home, Gaithersburg 

• Restricting access to services to immediate family only 
• Asking anyone with a fever or symptoms of a respiratory illness to stay off the property  

Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care, Rockville 

• No gatherings or services at funeral home until further notice
• Encouraging graveside services 
• Handling arrangements through email and phone

Shomrei Neshama of Greater Washington, P.A. in Rockville 

• No gatherings or services at funeral home until further notice 
• Encouraging graveside services 
• Handling arrangements through email and phone 

Snowden Funeral Home, Rockville 

• Asking people planning to visit to make sure they have no fever or flu-like symptoms 
• Encouraging people to call before coming to the office to make sure there aren’t too many people in the building at once
• Limiting the number of family members that can come to the office to make arrangements to two people 
• Restricting services to no more than 10 people 
• Increased cleaning 

Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Silver Spring

• Restricting services to no more than 10 people 
• Increased cleaning 
• Asking anyone with a fever or symptoms of a respiratory illness to stay off the property

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, Silver Spring 

• Enhanced and more frequent cleaning
• Handling arrangements through email and phone
• Adjusting number of guests attending services 

Philip D. Rinaldi Funeral Service, P.A., Silver Spring 

• Asking people planning to visit to make sure they have no fever or flu-like symptoms 
• Limiting the number of family members that can come to the office to make arrangements to two or three people
• Call for an appointment before coming to the home 
• Restricting services to no more than 10 people 
• Increased cleaning 

About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

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