Trick or treaters urged not to knock on doors and only take wrapped treats Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - October 28, 2020 Halloween trick or treaters are being encouraged to stay in small family groups and only take individually wrapped lollies this year to inhibit the spread of COVID-19. Photo: Lisa Webb. HALLOWEEN is set to look a little different tomorrow night with NSW Health releasing COVID-safe advice for those planning on trick or treating. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Youngsters are encouraged to still enjoy the annual tradition, but to do so safely by staying 1.5 metres away from people they don’t live with, staying local and avoiding busy streets, only taking individually wrapped treats, using a disposable bag to collect treats then disposing of it afterwards, and taking hand sanitiser with them and using it as they trick or treat around their neighbourhood. This year, locals are being encouraged to make Halloween a front-yard event by keeping celebrations outdoors and getting creative by decorating the front yard and only handing out individually wrapped treats. Communal lolly bowls are not encouraged, with participants instead asked to distribute treats differently by hanging them individually on fences, front gates or along driveways. Hand sanitisers can be placed at front gates or on fences for trick or treaters to use, and signs can be placed at homes to inform trick or treaters that homeowners are social distancing and for trick or treaters to only take one treat. NSW Health is urging locals to remember that under current restrictions only twenty people are allowed on a property at any one time, and this includes Halloween trick or treaters converging on a property. NSW Health is therefore recommending locals to only trick or treat within their own suburb and not go to well-known ‘treat streets’ in the area that attract large crowds, not to go to people’s front doors, to trick or treat in small household groups which include a supervising adult and children from the same household rather than groups of young people together, don’t share treats with people from other households, don’t share costumes or costume face masks, and carry hand sanitiser with you and use it often, especially after touching common surfaces. Anyone who has any symptoms of COVID-19 over Halloween is urged to stay home and to not receive Halloween visitors. By Emma DARBIN
