WHILE the novel coronavirus pandemic is ravaging the world, some of Norway’s funeral homes have found themselves without work and have turned to the state for aid. Due to declining mortality and canceled funeral ceremonies, half a dozen Norwegian undertakers, according to a public registry, have turned to the state for help after the initial success of Norway’s handling of COVID-19 left them struggling to make ends meet. For the Lande family, who have made caring for the dead their livelihood for three generations, this has never happened before. “When the measures against the coronavirus were imposed, it turned out that it not only broke the back of the coronavirus but other viruses too,” Erik Lande, now head of the family business in the south of the country, told AFP. “So much so that some of the old and sick people who would have died in normal circumstances are still around,” he added. Usually the firm handles around 30 funeral arrangements a month, but after the introduction of Norway’s semi-lockdown in March, that fell to less than 10 in following weeks, with not a single one from COVID-19, Lande explained. To cover fixed costs such as rent and insurance, Lande’s funeral home has received US$3,400 of economic aid. (SD-Agencies) |