Communal leaders have welcomed a change of heart from the government on the numbers allowed at stone-settings.

Up to 15 people will now be able to attend a stone-setting. Under previous restrictions, the maximum number allowed at a stone-setting was six. Up to 30 people can attend a funeral.

Welcoming the move, Board of Deputies' president Marie van der Zyl said the “rule of six” for stone-settings had been “seemingly anomalous”.

The Board had asked government “for a consistent approach that will allow a minyan and additional close friends and family to attend stone-settings and give comfort to mourners. We are grateful to the government for its compassion in heeding this advice."

But given “the alarming rise in the infection rate, we urge the community to be meticulous in observing social distancing regulations at cemeteries as in all other spaces”.

United Synagogue head of burial Melvyn Hartog was also pleased that the government “has listened carefully to our and others' concerns and has increased the stone-setting limit to 15. While this number is still not ideal, we know it will bring some comfort to our members at this difficult time."