Monroeville plans to move forward with trick-or-treating plans, despite CDC warnings

Monroeville plans to have door-to-door trick-or-treating during Halloween this year, despite recent recommendations against the traditional activity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In an open letter addressed to Monroeville residents, Mayor Nick Gresock said trick-or-treating will occur from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

“Being an outdoor activity, I feel it can be done safely. Obviously, residents can choose to participate or not,” he wrote in the letter, which is posted on the municipality’s website. “I think it’s important for the community to be able to celebrate this fun night with all of the changes and cancellations we have been dealing with this year.”

In new guidelines released Monday, the CDC grouped Halloween activities into lower-risk, moderate-risk and higher-risk categories.

The higher-risk category includes door-to-door trick-or-treating and events where children get treats from the trunks of cars in a parking lot.

“Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses,” the CDC said in a statement. “There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have covid-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with covid-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.”

Other activities to be avoided according to the CDC include hayrides or tractor rides with others, visiting fall festivals in other communities and indoor haunted houses where people will be crowded and screaming, which could spray infectious particles.

Gresock said Sept. 24 that plans for trick-or-treating will remain in place despite the CDC’s recommendations.

“With everything going on in the world, with cancellations and reschedulings, it’s a chance to have fun for a couple hours,” he said.