The death of people after testing positive for COVID-19 is distressing enough for their families and friends, especially when they have not been able to be with their loved one at the end because of quarantine rules. But the restrictions don't end there – the risk of transmission continues. Here's a guide to the UK advice.

What happens if someone in your household dies at home?

If that person has tested positive or had COVID-19 symptoms before they died "try not to come into direct contact with them. Move to at least two meters away or another room."

That's the advice from Public Health England – it goes on to say you should call your doctor, or if the death was unexpected, to call the emergency services on 999 and explain the situation.

Dirty tissues and clothing can be binned – but kept separate from other rubbish for 72 hours – or washed, but the advice is not to shake out dirty laundry as that could disperse the virus in the air.

What is the risk of infection from the deceased person's body?

Public Health England thinks there's "little residual hazard" except for: 

* Potential droplet generation from artificial air movement during the initial care of the deceased

* Post-mortem examination where the use of power tools take place, which is a risk for aerosol generation

It estimates that the virus could be present for up to 72 hours on environmental surfaces in "room air" conditions. In deceased bodies, particularly those in refrigeration conditions, an infectious virus "may persist for longer and testing for suspected cases should be considered."

Body bags are not needed to combat any risk of infection, Public Health England says, but does suggest a mask or cloth being placed "over the mouth of the deceased when moving them can help to prevent the release of aerosols."

The protective equipment recommended for care of the deceased

Funerals can be held, but with severe restrictions

The official rule now is that only members of the deceased immediate family and household can attend. The only exception is that "if the deceased has neither household nor family members in attendance, then it is possible for a modest number of friends to attend."

Mourners should remain at least two meters away from each other at all times and "should avoid any direct face-to-face or physical contact, for example, hugging each other, unless they are part of the same household, that is, they have already been living in the same house as each other."

It says that for funerals, or other events to pay respects to the deceased, it is likely that the next of kin are household members likely to be self-isolating. In this case, mourners should "pay their respects in small groups, with those who are in self-isolation doing so after others who are well and not self-isolating."

There is also a reminder that social-distance rules should be observed on the way to and from the funeral, so no sharing of vehicles by different households.

And anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or those in high-risk groups, are strongly advised not to attend, with digital hook-ups suggested as an alternative to attending.