Here’s how to spend Halloween safely

The government of Quebec announced this Thursday that little Quebecers will be able to celebrate Halloween on October 31, provided certain rules are respected.

• Read also: All developments in the COVID-19 pandemic

• Read also: Halloween: the candy collection can take place in Quebec, under certain conditions

Here are the instructions and advice from Public Health so that the collection of candy from house to house is done safely during a COVID-19 pandemic:

• Children and their parents should only circulate in the company of members of their household or “bubble”.
• The children will have to collect the candies and sweets at a place two meters from the visited house.
• Under no circumstances should children enter houses other than their own.

In addition to these essential rules, the Legault government and the Department of Public Health are asking:

• That people who show symptoms of COVID-19 or who are in isolation do not participate in the collection;
• That the candy collection circuit be limited to the neighborhood surrounding the participants’ homes;
• That people respect a distance of two meters from others;
• That people wear a face covering and refrain from singing or shouting in front of the people to whom they are going;
• That hand washing be done before departure and return home.

Also, during his press briefing Thursday, Prime Minister François Legault said categorically that “parties” or private Halloween gatherings would not be tolerated.

• Listen to the interview with Benoît Barbeau, virologist and professor of biological sciences at UQAM, on QUB radio:

“This year, Halloween is reserved for children who go door to door,” says the Government of Quebec.

“Low risk”

The director of public health, Dr Horacio Arruda, recalled that the risks associated with Halloween are considered “low”, as children circulate outside, for a relatively short period of time.