Local funeral homes are following federal guidelines by limiting the amount of visitors in their facilities for the next several weeks.
Jason Horner is co-owner of Hooper, Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. He said the decision did not come lightly.
“This is unprecedented for us and the nation,” Horner said. “We have always been able to gather for ceremonies and services and encourage each other, but the times with the coronavirus is changing that. We feel like the safety of the public and the staff is our number one priority.”
Horner said online and phone arrangements are available, but they are still prepared to help the community in person.
“We’re limiting exposure to families having to come in, but we are not closing the doors for families that need the face to face person when they are making arrangements,” Horner said. “We haven’t gone that far yet, and I hope we don’t have to.”
Horner said they are suggesting private ceremonies and plan to offer public ceremonies at a later date for no additional charge. They are also sanitizing their facility daily and have suspended bringing food to the funeral home.
