LOWELL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — City officials in Lowell have cancelled door-to-door trick-or-treating for Halloween this year, according to a post on the city's Facebook page.
"Trick-or-treating is considered a high-risk activity by the CDC," the post said. "Lowell is currently classified as “red” under the state’s COVID-19 risk designation system and has experienced a significant increase in new cases of COVID-19 among residents over recent weeks."
According to the most recent data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Lowell is one of 63 communities that are considered high-risk for Covid-19 transmission.
City officials said that allowing children and parents to go trick-or-treating could pose a "substantial public health risk" to residents in the community.
Lowell residents are encouraged to pursue other more low-risk activities to celebrate Halloween recommended by the CDC, like having a virtual costume contest, or carving pumpkins outside your house with people who live in the same household.
The post also cautions residents to avoid any indoor festivities, like haunted houses or areas where people are crowded close together.
Meanwhile in Salem, the Salem News reports that city officials are considering crowd control strategies, like closing businesses early, to keep visitors out of the Witch City for Halloween this year.
"This isn't the place to be this Halloween. We don't want more people coming to our community," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll told Salem News. "Stay tuned, more coming on that front."
Governor Charlie Baker has said that in terms of a state-wide ban on trick-or-treating, his administration will let local officials decide their plan for the holiday.
Baker added that he believes trick-or-treating outside with a small group of people is safer than hosting Halloween parties inside and potentially contributing to the spread of the virus.
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