Frequently Asked Questions: Funeral and Burial Services for American Indians and Alaska Natives
At the request of tribal leaders, federal partners developed this Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) fact sheet to help guide tribes with funeral and burial health and safety. This fact sheet also helps tribes plan for an increase in deaths within a community. Tribes and families practice unique traditions and refer to death in varying ways as they honor those who have passed on. We share this public health guidance with sincere respect for those traditions.
Please visit cdc.gov for the most updated guidance on COVID-19.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Basics
Higher Risk
COVID-19 and Funerals
The CDC has many resources available for you and your community:
- Emergency preparedness: Emergency preparedness: Community Mitigation Strategypdf icon | Emergency Events Covid-19external icon | FEMA Preparedness Resourcesexternal icon
- Symptoms-testing, including a self-checker tool
- Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Use of Masks to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
- At Risk Populations including older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions
- EPA list of cleaning agentsexternal icon
- Precautions
- Hand washing
- Preparednesspdf icon
- Healthcare Planning Checklistpdf iconexternal icon
- CDC Funeral questions and answers
- Disinfecting your home
For further information, or to provide comment on this resource, please contact the CDC Emergency Operations Center at preparedness@cdc.gov.
CDC/ATSDR is committed to promoting the health and safety of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.