Springfield trick-or-treating allowed this Halloween with guidance to prevent spread of COVID - MassLive.com

Door-to-door trick-or-treating will be allowed in Springfield this year with strongly recommended health and safety guidance, Mayor Domenic Sarno, Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton Harris announced Wednesday.

The city made the decision after reviewing COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates and announced the plan as early as possible so families and organizers can prepare for safe and fun Halloween activities. Last year, Springfield banned outdoor trick-or-treating to prevent the spread of COVID.

The Department of Health and Human Services put out the following list of recommendations and guidance:

• Strongly encourages everyone to keep wearing their masks and face coverings
• A costume mask is not a substitute
• Avoid confined spaces, large gatherings and maintain social distancing
• Wash or sanitize your hands often
• Parents, please supervise your children using hand sanitizer
• Wash your hands when you get home with soap and water before you eat any treats
• Clean frequently touched items regularly
• For houses participating and handing out candy, do not allow trick or treaters to grab treats from the bowl or bag. You should be handing out treats and putting them into their bags or buckets
• If possible, have individually bagged treats to give out to kids
• If possible, hand out and give treats outdoors and not by your door
• This will help reduce gatherings in confined spaces – doorways, porches, steps, etc.
• If you are sick, or been in contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 stay home, and away from others

The city also encourages groups and organizations to hold COVID safe Halloween events like a drive by, drive through, drive in and car parade activities.

“We want everyone to have a fun but yet safe Halloween experience. We have all worked so hard throughout this COVID-19 pandemic but we must remain vigilant if we are to defeat this virus,” Sarno and Caulton-Harris said in the announcement. “Although our vaccination rates continue to steadily improve, we still have a long way to go, especially with vaccinating our younger population. We must be smart and safe in order to continue to build public, consumer, and business confidence. If everyone follows these simple but yet proven and effective precautions, we can all enjoy a fun and safe Halloween.”

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