Tomb-sweeping goes virtual

To curb the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, cemeteries have introduced an online system where people can perform their customary duties remotely during this year's Qingming Festival

Many Shanghai residents may not be able to visit the graves of their loved ones during the upcoming Qingming Festival because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Zeng Qun, the deputy head of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, said on Mar 14 that residents have been advised to avoid the usual practice for this year's festival which falls on Apr 4. More than 2 million people visited public cemeteries during this occasion last year.

As part of measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the city has stopped all public gatherings at funeral homes, cemeteries and venues for funeral, incineration and burial ceremonies, Zeng added.

"We are calling on the people of Shanghai to avoid visiting cemeteries and funeral homes during the Qingming period (Mar 28-Apr 12) so as to avoid crowd gatherings and the potential risk of spreading the virus."

But people will still get to pay their respects to the dead, albeit in a different manner.