"We have been forgotten": Undertakers demand fast corona vaccination

The undertakers in Bavaria are currently particularly challenged.

Mortality is traditionally higher in winter, plus the corona deaths - this is also clearly noticeable in the crematoria.

But just like in the spring, the undertakers feel forgotten by politics: They demand early vaccinations for their employees.

• Bavaria's undertakers are demanding a quick vaccination for their employees.

• The number of cremations is increasing in the crematoria.

• Municipalities are preparing for an increase in deaths.

Munich

- December was a month that undertakers will not soon forget.

"In winter we have had a higher number of deaths over the past few decades, but the corona pandemic was clearly felt again in December," says Karl Albert Denk from the funeral home of the same name from Erding.

The pandemic has not made everyday work for undertakers any easier.

FFP2 masks, full body suits, disinfected shrouds.

A farewell in an open coffin is currently hardly possible for the relatives, and personal contact between undertakers and relatives must be kept tight during these times - of all times, in moments when psychological support is more important than ever.

The Undertaker Association is demanding that vaccinations be given priority

But the undertakers feel forgotten by politics - again.

As early as the spring, the undertakers were only classified as a systemically important professional group after loud protests, which ultimately gave them access to hygiene products such as gloves.

And now the chairman of the Bavarian Undertaker Association, Ralf Michal, fears that his colleagues will be forgotten again.

When vaccinating.

Undertakers and employees have not yet been in any group that are vaccinated earlier, he criticizes.

The undertakers are particularly often in contact with infected people.

"We therefore urgently need vaccination priority," says Michal.

The risk of infection from the deceased has not yet been clearly researched

Karl Albert Denk supports this demand.

“It's not just about self-protection.

We are out and about every day in hospitals and old people's homes and have contact with relatives of those who have died from Covid-19.

There is a risk that the virus will be spread. ”Scientifically controversial is still how long the dead can pass the virus on.

"As long as there is no clarity, we should rather exercise caution here," says Denk.

Ralf Hanrieder, undertaker based in Dachau, also calls for more attention to be paid to his industry.

“If many employees suddenly have to be quarantined at a large funeral home, the system can quickly collapse.” Of course, the fear of infection always resonates with the employees.

In December almost a third more cremations in the Traunstein crematorium

In the crematoria, too, it becomes clear what effects the second corona wave is now having.

"In December we carried out almost a third more cremations than in the previous year," says Thomas Engmann, who operates the cremation facility in Traunstein.

There was also a short-term increase in April, which was probably due to some corona hotspots.

In December, the excess mortality was determined nationwide.

Engmann can therefore understand the undertaker's need for an earlier vaccination.

In Traunstein, he has switched from two to three shifts, and cremation is now taking place on weekends too in order to cope with the task.

A situation like the one in Nuremberg, where the dead had to be temporarily stored in refrigerated containers after the holidays because the crematorium had reached the capacity limit, was not threatened in Traunstein.

“The increase is clear.

But we can handle it, ”says Engmann.

Nevertheless, provisions are also being made in southern Bavaria.

For example, refrigerated containers have been standing at the municipal cemeteries in Munich since March, in case the number of deaths should continue to rise dramatically.

A corresponding container was also set up in Herrsching yesterday.

Both in Munich and in Herrsching, however, the message is: "We hope we don't need it."