Vienna (AFP)
The funeral services adapt to the constraints of confinement and now offer bereaved Viennese to follow the funeral ceremony of their loved ones live on the internet.
The undertaker "Himmelblau", one of the largest in the Austrian capital, was the first to offer this service a few days ago, followed this week by the funeral services of the city of Vienna.
"It is difficult for many loved ones not to be able to attend the funeral," director of Himmelblau (sky blue) Jacob Homan, who has already organized the recording of six burials, told AFP on Wednesday.
The brewing or cremation can be followed for free on the Zoom software thanks to a link secured by a password on mobile phones and computers. The video can then be delivered to customers if they wish.
The funeral services of the city of Vienna followed suit and "this allows relatives and especially those belonging to groups at risk to be present at the farewell ceremony without risk taking," said AFP. a spokesperson, Nina Lämmermaier.
In Austria, any gathering of more than five people in public space is prohibited and burials are no exception. Some relatives cannot also move, the borders being closed and the routes strictly supervised.
Vienna has one of the largest cemeteries in Europe - two square kilometers -.
Participants in a funeral in early March in south-eastern Austria had to be quarantined a few days later with the discovery of several cases of Covid-19 among those present.
Funeral directors also offer this service in France and Spain.
© 2020 AFP