Home COVID-19 NFDA: We've Got Your Back

Important Advisories

  • Your local and/or state public health officials may be making recommendations for the care of decedents and/or public gatherings that are more stringent than what the CDC and federal government have recommended. In these cases, you should defer to your state and/or local public health officials.
  • The CDC has advised if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you are concerned about a potential exposure, this risk assessment for healthcare personnel (HCP) from the CDC may be useful.

We've Got Your Back

Update April 14, 2020

As part of NFDA’s ongoing commitment to you and our active involvement in federal mass-fatality management, we have been actively monitoring the situation surrounding COVID-19. We are in touch with the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and are receiving ongoing updates about the risk posed by this virus.

For many years, NFDA has been actively involved with federal and state departments, agencies, and private organizations to ensure the role of funeral service in any natural or man-made mass-fatality incident is clearly defined and adequately reflected in their policies. 

We have been in the forefront of advocating that the federal government and all federal agencies recognize the critical importance of a national mass-fatality management policy that addresses: the orderly recovery, identification, processing of human remains; the dignified conduct of funeral services; and respectful final dispositions. 

As the recognized experts, we have worked closely with the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and others as part of various working groups, focus groups, and coalitions. 

NFDA represents funeral service on the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council, which is part of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program and also includes all branches of the military; federal agencies, including Federal Emergency Management Agency and DHS; and private entities focused on mass-causality and mass-fatality events. This program is part of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

These efforts are an ongoing priority for NFDA. Because of our ongoing involvement in these issues and the relationships we have developed with federal agencies, we are aware of incidents when they arise; we are always actively involved and monitoring and share relevant information when we have it. We are your voice and we’ve got your back!