Don’t get too spooked, but Halloween seems to be a go (with safety advice and restrictions ...)

Jeff Green | Oct 21, 2020

 On Monday morning, (October 19) the government of Ontario released a statement saying that Ontario residents living in areas of the province that are under modified stage 2 restrictions (Ottawa, Peel, Toronto, York Region) should not send their kids out for Trick or Treating.

For areas of the province not under those restrictions, including Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and Lanark Counties’, the statement, which is attributed to the Provincial Officer of Health David Williams, does not come out and say that say door to door trick or treating is recommended. It is more a case that Williams is not, not recommending trick or treating.

The statement said “To have a safe and happy Halloween, Ontarians should follow some simple steps: Avoid gatherings with people outside of your household; Stay home if you are feeling ill, even if you have mild symptoms, or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19”

For people living outside modified Stage 2 public health unit regions and are going to go out to trick or treat, the statement provides some further advice.

“Only go out with members of your household;

• Only trick or treat outside; both trick or treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering. A costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering and should not be worn over a face covering as it may make it difficult to breathe;
• Do not congregate or linger at doorsteps and remember to line up two metres apart if waiting. Avoid high-touch surfaces and objects;
• Whether collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly, or use hand sanitizer;
• And do not leave treats in a bucket or bowl for children to grab and consider using tongs or other similar tools to hand out treats”

Before the provincial statement was released just after 11am on Monday morning,  KFL&A Public Health had not decided what they were going to recommend for residents of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington residents.

“By Wednesday, Dr. Moore [Medical Officer of Health for Kingston Frontenac, Lennox and Addington] has indicated that we will see any impact that Thanksgiving activities may have had on our cases in the area. No decision at this time about Halloween,” Jenn Fagan, commications officer for KFLAPHJ said in an email to the News earlier on Monday morning.

She indicated that any local decision will have to wait until later in the week “unless the province comes forward with more specific communication.”

An hour later, she forwarded the statement from Dr. Williams and the provincial government.

Throughout the COIVD-19 era, Dr. Moore has been conducting a virtual meeting with municipal officials from across KFL&A every Monday afternoon. Any specific local advice or restrictions for Halloween are expected to follow that meeting.

As an additional service, the province has posted two downloadable posters that can be printed and put up on people’s front doors.

One is for families who are giving out treats: 

welcome trick or treaters

and the other is  for families who are not giving out treats:

Sorry, see you next year