Parents urged not to go trick or treating amid covid Tier 3 fears
Parents across Sunderland have been urged not to take their children trick or treating this weekend.
Halloween is tomorrow, but with the city still on Tier 2 of the Government’s coronavirus restrictions, civic leaders are calling on mams and dads across Wearside to find alternative ways to mark the occasion.
Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Healthy C i ty, C o u n c i l l o r D r G e o f f Walker has said the council is “strongly discouraging” parents from taking their children out trick or treating and warned that covid could be passed on with sweets and treats.
He said: “Trick or treating is strongly discouraged because of the risks of keeping socially distanced and the chances of covid being passed on from sharing food and sweets.”
Sunderland and County Durham, along with North and South Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland, are under Tier 2 restrictions and have been warned that if case numbers do not continue to drop could be pushed into Tier 3.
Tier 2 rules do not actually ban people from visiting neighbouring houses, so long as they don’t go in.
Pe o p l e f ro m d i f f e re nt households can meet outside while observing social distancing, including in private gardens, so long as there are no more than six at a time
However, Cllr Walker is advising families to look for other activities instead.
He said: “We want the people of Sunderland to enjoy Halloween, but remember – do not mix with people from other households in any indoor setting.
"You can mix with up to six people from other households in an outdoor setting and if mixing outdoors, wear a mask, socially distance, wash your hands or use sanitizer regularly.
“There’s plenty of other activities from a socially-distanced walk to spot Halloween or monsters displays, such as in the city centre; carving your own pumpkins, making your own decorations, watching a favourite Halloween film or a virtual party with friends and family online.
“We all have to play our part in limiting the spread of covid and we are seeing successes locally in doing this.
“We don’t want to ruin the hard work of recent weeks so it’s important to think again and look at different and safer ways to enjoy Halloween this year.”