halloween-trick-or-treating-canceled-l-a-county-due-coronavirus-pandemic

Halloween Trick or Treating Canceled in L.A. County Due To Coronavirus Pandemic

Residents in L.A. don’t need to expect any trick or treaters this Halloween. The Department of Public Health in the county is canceling a number of Halloween traditions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health released a statement announcing the news. “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,” the statement reads.

Furthermore, the Department of Public Health writes, “‘Trunk-or-treating’ events where children go from car to car instead of door to door to receive treats are also not allowed.”

In addition to trick or treating, gatherings or parties with non-household members are not permitted. This includes carnivals, live entertainment, and other Halloween-related activities such ash Haunted Houses.

For those hoping to celebrate Halloween, a few options remain. The Department encourages people to consider online get-togethers, costume contests, pumpkin-carving parties and drive-by events. In short, any activity that can be done from a distance with only immediate members of your household.

The decision comes as little surprise considering L.A. County still bans house parties. Large numbers of people going door-to-door in close contact clearly violates L.A. Mayor Garcetti’s COVID guidelines.

L.A. Residents React to Halloween Trick or Treating Being Cancelled

Ron Moazzez, a costume store owner on Hollywood Boulevard, spoke out about the situation. He thinks L.A. County residents still should find a way to celebrate despite the new ban on trick or treating.

“People decorate their house, backyard… and [on] Hollywood Boulevard, it’s always Halloween,” he tells CBS Los Angeles. “There doesn’t need to be a private party.”

Another local resident, Alison Isbell, says she plans to celebrate in any way she possibly can.

“Just because people have been kind of stir crazy, pent up at home [with] not much to do, so I would think it would be a big release of fun for everybody and hopefully that’s what it is,” she said.

[H/T TMZ]