Do you think other areas will follow suit?
Happy Halloween? On September 9, Los Angeles officials dashed the Halloween hopes of children and adults everywhere. The LA County Department of Public decided to suck the life out of all things spooky and fun faster than Dracula could drain his next meal.
According to the original guidance, people in the LA area were instructed to ghost door-to-door trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treating car events entirely.
“Door to door trick or treating is not allowed because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors especially in neighborhoods that are popular with trick or treaters,” said the health department's original guidance. “Gatherings or Parties with non-household members are not permitted even if they are conducted outdoors. Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, and haunted house attractions are not allowed.”
Once the guidance came to light, people were not thrilled, causing LA County to walk back its position a tad.
Now, instead of prohibiting trick-or-treating or trunk-or-treating events, they are listed as "not recommended." All other party-like events are still on the not allowed list. Events that host drive-up fun, like movies, online parties, themed outdoor dining, or drive-up events where people receive commercially packaged treat bags are still allowed under the LA County guidelines, among a few other permitted activities.
Of course, California was hit hard by COVID-19, so the restrictions aren't that out of left field. Receiving candy that may or may not be sanitary could pose a transmission risk, and most all large gatherings are still discouraged across the nation.
While LA is the first area to address Halloween activities during the current pandemic, more places will likely be examining their celebrations quite soon.
That begs the question, should your town boo down all Halloween festivities this year, keep a bare-bones celebration alive, or just leave it alone entirely? Why or why not? Do you have special plans for Halloween this year? Let us know in the comments.