Los Angeles cancels trick-or-treating for Halloween

Los Angeles County just announced that it is canceling door-to-door trick-or-treating due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On top of banning trick-or-treating, the county has said that no parties, carnivals and festivals will be permitted, according to KCAL- 9.

“Door-to-door trick-or-treating is not allowed because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors, especially in neighborhoods that are popular with trick or treaters,” the county’s public health department stated in new guidelines. “‘Trunk-or-treating’ events where children go from car to car instead of door to door to receive treats are also not allowed.”

“This year, it’s just not safe to celebrate in the ways we usually do,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “We are recommending that trick-or-treating not happen this year.”

Los Angeles resident Joanna Cortez told the Los Angeles Times that she does not agree with the new guidelines.

“Trick-or-treating is an outdoor activity,” she said. “We can have measures in place like social distancing and leaving out candy in a bowl for children versus actually handing out candy.”

Ron Moazzez, who has owned a costume store for 35 years on Hollywood Boulevard, said that he hopes people still choose to celebrate Halloween.

“People decorate their house, backyard…and [on] Hollywood Boulevard, it’s always Halloween,” he said. “There doesn’t need to be a private party.”

Local resident Alison Isbell agreed with him, saying that she will celebrate Halloween however she can.

“Just because people have been kind of stir crazy, pent up at home [with] not much to do, so I would think it would be a big release of fun for everybody and hopefully that’s what it is,” she said.

L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn spoke out to tell the public that “even a pandemic can’t cancel Halloween.”

“In fact, it’s the only day of the year we were expected to wear masks before this crisis started,” said Hahn. “Be safe, practice physical distancing and get creative about how you celebrate with your kids this year.”