Ontario's Halloween guidelines called out for conflicting messages
On Monday, Dr. David Williams, top Ontario physician announced that door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended this Halloween for modified Stage 2 regions.
Considering the high number of COVID-19 cases in Ottawa, Toronto, Peel, and York Region, Williams recommended people living in these regions should celebrate in alternative ways such as virtual parties, movie night, organize a candy hunt with people living in your household, decorate your front lawn, or carve pumpkins at home.
"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,” stated Williams.
The announcement came the same day York Region transitioned into modified Stage 2, following suit with the other three hotspot regions in the province.
For people living outside of modified Stage 2 regions, Williams recommended only going out with family members and trick-or-treating outdoors only, while wearing a face mask and maintaining distance.
“The severity of this second wave is in our hands,” stated Williams. “Through our collective efforts, we can change the outcome of this new outbreak.”
“That is why it remains critical to continue following these important actions every day in order to protect your health and stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Public confused by conflicting guidance
People are questioning why children in modified Stage 2 regions are allowed to go to school, remain indoors with many other students while not being required to wear a mask, yet are not encouraged to trick or treat outdoors with their families.
“There is incredible and indefensible hypocrisy in cancelling a single night of low risk children trick-or-treating outdoors,” said Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, Associate Professor of family medicine at University of Ottawa.
“While simultaneously allowing high risk seniors and other adults to congregate, daily if desired, for hours at a time, in still open houses of worship,” added Freedhoff. “While also permitting dancers to attend maskless indoor dance classes.”
Following the announcement, some people shared online that they are not in support of the government’s recommendations for trick-or-treating this year:
So adults were allowed to go to bars until a week ago, but kids can’t trick-or-treat? That makes total sense, #Ontario. We can’t allow kids to go outside, in masks, but 25+ kids can be squashed together in classrooms. And we don’t think there’s any problem with our inconsistency. https://t.co/poPzK2WINe
— Dr Nili Kaplan-Myrth, MD, PhD, CCFP (@nilikm) October 19, 2020
As if this pandemic isn't hard enough on kids already, whether it's education or Halloween, Ontario seems incapable of putting children first.
We need evidence-based decision-making and clear communication now.
Let's do better. Our kids deserve it.— Amber Mac (@ambermac) October 20, 2020
"When you impose unrealistic and unjustified rules, you erode trust. If you can cram 30 kids into a classroom, how can you argue that they can’t walk around outside in small groups?" Picard on Halloween in Ontario. https://t.co/B2EPpMq8SR
— @realSarahPolley (@realsarahpolley) October 20, 2020
I have been adhering to all Ontario recommendations re COVID and like this expert who is more knowledgable than me, I did not expect a cancellation of Halloween either. Why can't kids trick-or-treat if they continue to follow the guidelines? It's outside, for goodness sake! https://t.co/iyWgweNL7o
— Rebecca Ross (@RebeccaFRoss) October 19, 2020
However others are in favour of the Halloween recommendations for this year:
Dear ppl of Ontario...its not the end of the world that you can't trick or treat...find a different way to enjoy Halloween.. your kids will understand...#safetyfirst #onpoli #COVID19
— Bhumika Patel (@bhumika1981) October 19, 2020
Not to take Halloween away from kids but it should be canceled completely for all Ontario. This way you don't create division amongst bureau's and prevent possible spread.
Ontario says no trick or treating this Halloween in coronavirus hotspots https://t.co/n1B3F4GCWU— Dave (@DaveWalmsley1) October 20, 2020
This #Halloween why not take the opportunity to teach your kids how disappointing life actually is and cancel #TrickORTreating
— Languish, Ontario (@LanguishOntario) October 20, 2020
