Rules to follow for trick or treating this Halloween
THE GOVERNMENT IS URGING PEOPLE TO REMAIN MINDFUL
CORONAVIRUS has affected a number of traditional events we love to celebrate this year, and trick or treating on Halloween will be the same.
It has been suggested that children in some areas will still be able to dress up and knock on doors for sweets, but there are some tier-related rules to follow.
The Government is urging people to be mindful of the rules regarding social distancing and mixing in groups when it comes to trick or treating. Obviously, it depends on where you live and which tier you’re currently stuck in.
For Hull and the East Riding, the rules could change from midnight on Halloween as the two areas look set to move into Tier 2, the high-risk category of the national coronavirus alert system.
Here is a guide which tells you what you can and can’t do:
TIER 3 - AREAS AFFECTED:
South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Nottingham, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe
In very high alert level areas, under Tier 3 rules, you cannot mix with other households indoors or in private outdoor spaces such as gardens - so trick or treating cannot take place.
TIER 2 - AREAS AFFECTED: Slough, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Barrow-in Furness, parts of Derbyshire, Durham, Essex, parts of Leicestershire, London, parts of Nottinghamshire, Northumberland,
York, Stoke-on-trent, Elmbridge, Tees Valley, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands, Leeds, West Yorkshire
In high alert level areas, under Tier 2 rules, the rule of six applies in private gardens and outdoor spaces, but households can’t mix indoors.
This means trick or treating can take place, as long as people meet outdoors in no more than groups of six (and the person answering the door to you is counted in that group) and do not enter homes.
People from different households or bubbles must adhere to social distancing and keep two metres apart while trick or treating.
TIER 1 - AREAS AFFECTED: Everywhere else in England
In medium alert level areas, under Tier 1 rules, people can meet indoors and outdoors in groups of no more than six people, which means trick or treating can take place, as long as people meet outdoors or indoors in no more than groups of six (and the person answering the door to you is counted in that group).
People from different households or bubbles must adhere to social distancing and keep two metres apart while trick or treating.
So the rules in Tier 1 and Tier 2 allow for trick or treating, as long as local restrictions and social distancing measures are adhered to.
When asked if trick or treating would be banned this year, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The rules are those which apply to household mixing in general and what that means in practice is if you are in a very high alert level then you cannot mix with other households indoors or in private outdoor spaces.
“If you’re in a high Covid alert level then the rule of six applies in private gardens and outdoor spaces, but households must not mix indoors.
“And in terms of the medium alert level, you can meet indoors and outdoors in groups of no more than six people.
“The rules are there for all circumstances and people will have to use their commons sense in ensuring they are following the rules.”