Swansea To Hold Trick-Or-Treat Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

SWANSEA, MA—The town of Swansea has decided to hold trick-or-treating this year on Saturday, October 31 despite ongoing concerns relating to the spread of COVID-19.

According to a press release posted on the town's COVID-19 Resources and Information blog, the town is encouraging residents and visitors to continue to practice social distancing this Halloween and comply with the current state gathering size limits, which is currently 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors for private events and 100 people in lower risk communities and 50 people in higher risk communities for public events.

"We understand that many residents want to participate in upcoming Halloween festivities to bring some sense of normalcy to the beginning of the holiday season amid the ongoing pandemic," Board of Selectmen Chair Christopher Carreiro said in the press release. "With that said, we would like to remind all out residents of the importance of taking safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. No Halloween activity is worth being infected or infecting others, so we ask that all residents remain mindful of COVID-19 guidance."

The town is encouraging those who decide to hand out candy on Halloween to make individually wrapped goodie bags and place them at the end of their driveway or edge of their yard for trick-or-treaters to take. Those who are handing out candy at their front doors should wear a mask and gloves and wash their hands frequently. Those who are not participating in trick-or-treating should shut off their outdoor lights on Halloween.

The Halloween activity guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds those who are celebrating Halloween this year to take precautions to avoid spreading the coronavirus while still enjoying the holiday. These precautions include attending outdoor events, placing candy on a platter instead of a bowl, "grab and go" trick-or treating with hand sanitizer left out for participants, utilizing face masks and gloves, frequent hand washing, outdoor decorating for others to enjoy from a distance, holding virtual costume contests or pumpkin carving events, celebrating indoors with household members only, avoiding entering anyone's home when trick-or treating, and marking separate entrance and exit paths for trick-or-treaters.

Those who are celebrating Halloween this year are encouraged to avoid crowded costume parties held indoors, indoor haunted houses, and public hayrides or tractor rides. Anyone who is feeling unwell, has tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or has traveled to or from a higher risk state within the last 14 days should refrain from Halloween activities.