Commemoration of the Dead in the Time of COVID-19

Studies acknowledge that the commemoration of the dead is greatly inspired by religious, 1 cultural, and sociological factors. 2 Overall, by linking the commemoration of the dead in the context of pandemic and disaster medicine and public health preparedness, this research contributes to knowledge advancement on respecting the dead in the context of a pandemic. 2 The World Health Organization 3 suggested key considerations for events related to death, burial, funeral (rites, ceremonies, and practices), and mourning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not made cremations mandatory during COVID-19 and families have the freedom to choose between burial or cremation.