The Irish Association of Funeral Directors says it wasn't their intention to alarm the public after it issued recommendations for dealing with coronavirus fatalities
There have been no Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland but the IAFD has issued a list of recommendations in the eventuality of disease-related fatalities.
It has advised that funeral services be delayed to avoid mass gatherings but that remains should be buried or cremated immediately.
It's also recommended that relatives of the deceased should not be permitted to attend funeral homes and that funeral instructions should be given over the phone only.
The IAFD says the deceased should always be removed from the place of death in a body bag which is not reopened and removal vehicles should be disinfected afterwards.
The deceased should be removed to a designated area within the funeral home's facilities and the deceased should not be embalmed and instead, be placed in a closed coffin.
A spokesperson for the group says that while the policies may make for uncomfortable reading, it was not their intention to alarm the public or be insensitive to the trauma that loved ones may face should a member of their family die from the disease.
They said that any funeral arrangements in these unprecedented circumstances will be carried out with the utmost respect and professionalism.
