Ontario urges no trick or treating in four hot spots

Ottawa, Peel, York, Toronto see virus surges

OTTAWA • Ontario’s chief medical officer of health is officially recommending against trick-or-treating come Halloween in the four areas of the province — Ottawa, Toronto, Peel and York Region — subject to modified Stage 2 restrictions, intended to address higher than average rates of COVID-19 transmission.

Dr. David Williams advised Ontarians in these areas to consider “alternative ways to celebrate” on Oct. 31, including pumpkin-carving, dressing up for virtual Halloween parties, an Easter-esque candy hunt with household members, or the sharing of scary stories.

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

According to Williams, those living outside the modified Stage 2 regions who want to trick or treat should only do so outside, with people they live with, and while wearing a face covering — and a costume mask doesn’ t count, he noted.

He also dispensed some advice for those handing out treats: don’t leave them in a container for children to grab, think about using tongs or a similar tool to hand them out, and wear a face covering while doing so.

And of course — avoid Halloween gatherings with non-household members, stay home if you’re feeling sick, and wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.

At his daily press conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford asked protesters who show up at his house every Saturday to stage their actions at Queen’s Park instead, noting that his neighbours are frustrated and their children frightened.

“You want to protest me — god bless you, I’m all for it, freedom of speech. Come down here, protest, do whatever you want. But just please leave my neighbours and their kids alone.”

Challenged multiple times on the province’s trick-ortreating decision, Ford ceded no ground.

“It’s not based on fear, it’s not based on my cabinet, it’s based on the medical advice that I get — not just from Dr. Williams, the whole team,” he said.

“I have two choices: either forget about the docs and ignore ‘em, everyone just go hog wild … or we take little precautions, and we just be safe with each other.

“Don’t cancel Halloween, have fun, do something else.”

Williams also pointed out that this is the first Halloween in the COVID-19 era — “there’s not a lot of track record, globally, on this matter.”

William said the medical officers of health in all four hot spots are “strongly concurrent” with the province’s Halloween recommendations.

More generally, Williams suggested that Ontario’s efforts to “beat down the second wave” seem to be paying off — “We’ve taken some measures, and we’re seeing some evidence of plateauing.”

He explained that the case numbers today do not reflect the projection shared at a technical briefing earlier this month that forecast daily cases numbering 1,200 to 1,400 by this point, without accounting for the restrictions the province recently applied.

However, said Williams, “We’re not out of it yet.”

On that note, the province reported 704 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, including 244 in Toronto, 168 in Peel, 103 in York Region, and 51 in Ottawa. Four additional deaths were also reported, coming on the heels of a weekend that saw 15 more COVID-19 deaths logged on Saturday and Sunday alone.

There are now more than 6,000 active cases across the province. The most recent data show at least 252 people are hospitalized with the disease (approximately 30 hospitals didn’t submit data over the weekend), including 69 in ICU and 40 on ventilators.

Eighty-six Ontario long-term care homes are now battling outbreaks of COVID-19 (up from 79 the day before), according to self-reported data provided to the Ministry of Long-Term care.

In the public health unit regions surrounding Ottawa, 13 more cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday in Eastern Ontario, and one each in Leeds, Grenville & Lanark, Renfrew County and District and Hastings-Prince Edward.

DON'T CANCEL HALLOWEEN, HAVE FUN, DO SOMETHING ELSE.

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Ontario's chief medical officer of health says trick-or-treating for Halloween is not recommended for children in the province's four COVID-19 hot spots.