Halloween in hot spots not advised: top doctor

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 addition 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 often or use hand sanitizer.

At his daily news conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was challenged multiple times on the province’s trick-or-treating decision, but 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.”