The past 24 hours have been a roller coaster for LA-based Halloween enthusiasts. Mere hours after banning trick-or-treating in Los Angeles County due to the coronavirus pandemic, the county’s Department of Public Health walked back on the decision, stating that while the Halloween tradition is not effectively banned, it is still “not recommended.”
The rapid flip-flop comes after LA-based parents and businesses “went apoplectic with outrage” at the idea of keeping children indoors instead of letting them catch coronavirus from a Kit-Kat bar, according to Deadline.
While Wednesday’s initial announcement banned both trick-or-treating and “trunk-or-treating,” in which participants go car-to-car to collect candy rather than door-to-door, the revised guidelines now state that such activities are simply ill-advised.
“Door to door trick-or-treating is not recommended because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors, ensure that everyone answering or coming to the door is appropriately masked to prevent disease spread, and because sharing food is risky,” the updated guidelines state.
“‘Trunk or treating’ where children go from car to car instead of door to door to receive treats is also not recommended, particularly when part of Halloween events, since it is difficult to avoid crowding and sharing food.”
But while trick-or-treating is back on, however begrudgingly, the health department isn’t budging on other restrictions. Halloween parties are still firmly off-limits, even if they take place outdoors, as are “carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, and haunted house attractions.”
The good news is, Halloween parties have always sucked and this pandemic is a perfect excuse to stay home and eat candy alone instead, which is, of course, the true meaning of Halloween.
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