CHICOPEE – City officials have canceled the annual downtown Halloween bash this year and are recommending against traditional trick-or-treating after federal guidelines called it an activity that is at high risk for spreading COVID-19
Health Director Lisa Sanders and Mayor John L. Vieau are advising people follow the federal Centers for Disease Control warnings for Halloween which recommends avoiding activities such as indoor parties or haunted houses where people will be crowded together, trunk-or-treat events where candy is handed out from cars parked together and going on hayrides or tractor rides.
“Trick-or-treating door-to-door is just not safe,” Vieau said. “There is too much potential for community spread. Participation in traditional Halloween activities should be avoided. I feel our residents can come up with some pretty creative options that would be both safe and fun.”
Canceling the city’s downtown Halloween party, which has been held annually since 2013 and most recently was called the Spooktacular, was disappointing, but some years more than 2,500 children and adults have gathered in the downtown area for the event making it unsafe, Vieau said.
The event includes a children’s costume contest, free food, music and the highlight is the trick-or-treat street, where local businesses and organizations hand out candy.
The Board of Health also said anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed to the disease should not hand out candy if children do trick-or-treat.
The announcement cames shortly after Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno banned door-to-door trick-or-treating on Halloween in that city.
“We are dealing with a pandemic here,” Sarno said after being criticized for the decision. “Why in the hell would you want to put your child and yourself in harm’s way? It makes no sense whatsoever.”
Under CDC guidelines low-risk Halloween activities ideas include a virtual costume contest, carving or decorating pumpkins with household members or outside at a distance with friends, Halloween scavenger hunts where children are given a list of things to look for while walking or driving with household members, holding a Halloween movie night outside at a distance with friends or inside with household members and having a trick-or-treat themed search inside or in outside in the yard.
For people who want to trick-or-treat, the Center for Disease Control said a safer way - but one that is still a moderate risk - is to create individually-wrapped goodie bags lined up at the end of a driveway or yard for children to grab. Anyone preparing the bags should wash their hands before they start and after they are done. Moderate-risk activities also include an open-air costume parade with 25 people or less distanced at least 6 feet apart or small outdoor parties where masks are worn.
Masks must cover the mouth and nose to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. A typical costume mask will not work well because there are usually openings for the mouth and nose, according to Disease Control recommendations.
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