BREAKING: Province recommends against trick-or-treating in Brampton

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Published October 19, 2020 at 2:50 pm

With Halloween just days away, the province has issued an official recommendation regarding trick-or-treating, and it might disappoint some people in Mississauga, Brampton and other “Stage 2 lite” municipalities. 

On Oct. 19, Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, said that he is recommending that families in Toronto, Ottawa, Peel (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) and York (Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Whitechurch-Stouffville, East Gwillimbury, Aurora, Georgina and King) avoid trick-or-treating this year in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

“As Ontarians begin to prepare for Halloween this year, I’d like to remind everyone to take extra precautions to ensure you are keeping yourself and your families safe,” Williams said in a statement. 

“Given the high transmission of COVID-19 in the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions of Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York Region, traditional door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended and people should consider alternative ways to celebrate.”  

Williams recommends that residents in these regions celebrate by dressing up and participating in virtual activities and parties; organizing a Halloween candy hunt with people living in their own household; carving pumpkins; having a movie night or sharing scary stories, and decorating their front lawns.

“It is recommended that you also check with your local municipality or public health unit for any additional advice or restrictions that may be in place. It is also critical that families not travel outside of their neighbourhood to celebrate Halloween,” Williams said. 

Williams said people in other regions who choose to trick-or-treat should only go out with members on their own household, remain outdoors at all times, keep two metres apart from people giving out candy, wear a mask or face-covering (a costume mask doesn’t count), avoid lingering on people’s doorsteps and stay home if they feel sick.

People giving out candy are encouraged to use tongs to maintain physical distancing and avoid having too many people touch the treats.  

“I would also like to remind everyone that we are in a second wave of COVID-19. There have been increases in cases in many areas across the province, and the percentage of people tested who get a positive result is going up,” Williams said.

“The severity of this second wave is in our hands. Through our collective efforts, we can change the outcome of this new outbreak.

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