What was the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance policy change?

FEMA expanded the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Interim Policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic, before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on death certification. This policy change allows applicants to submit a signed statement from the certifying official on the death certificate, or the local medical examiner or local coroner, that links the death to COVID-19 for deaths that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020. The applicant would submit the signed statement to FEMA along with the death certificate that does not list COVID-19 as a cause of death.