PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The City of Philadelphia this week announced COVID-19-safe guidelines for Halloween, though some families are skipping the trick-or-treat tradition because of the pandemic as well as violence concerns.
The top two recommendations from the city including staying with your group and not going into people’s houses.
“Most people celebrate Halloween outside, which is great. This is not a great year for indoor Halloween parties," said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole.
Jenna Korff, who lives in Bala Cynwyd, said she has joined together with other families for trick or treating in previous years, but they’re not doing that this year.
“Just trick-or-treat around her neighborhood, so it’s pretty much going to be the same for us. No big party," Korff said.
“Someone would have us over and we’d have food or wine or whatever prior to going out for trick-or-treating, so I mean that’s definitely not happening this year.”
“The whole thing with letting people into your house is sketchy anyway," said a man from Newtown who wished to remain anonymous.
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Dr. Bettigole said if you anticipate being in a big crowd, even outdoors, masks are highly recommended.
"A regular mask that covers the nose and mouth, not a costume mask," said Dr. Bettigole.
”Just try to make sure that kids are spaced a little bit so that the breeze can come between them, so that they get some ventilation.”
Some people are choosing to skip the festivities this year overall, and not only because of COVID-19. Violence is on the mind of a lot of families, including Rita Lee of West Oak Lane and her four children.
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“Trick-or-treating is not going to be a part of my plan this year," Lee admitted, because of "COVID and the violence."
“Right now, those two things combined, it just makes sense not to go door to door, not to be out at night with the kids in the street," Joy Looney of West Philadelphia added.
"If we’re talking about COVID, I think it’s more safe. If we’re talking about the violence, I think it’s the same.”
Looney said her teenage son is a student at Boys Latin and has known several people who have been shot and killed over the past several years.
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“He’s really afraid," Looney shared.
"His anxiety is beginning to cripple him because he doesn’t feel safe at school. He doesn’t feel safe outside.”
She said she considers gun violence an even bigger health thread than COVID-19 this year, which is why her family has decided to skip Halloween.
“Because COVID, we can take a vaccine for," Looney said.
"You can’t take a vaccine for gun violence.”