As the Halloween holiday creeps nearer and the pandemic stretches into its eighth month on the East Coast, it’s become increasingly difficult for communities to enforce state-mandated safety regulations that ask people to stay inside and keep their distance.
Even as current Massachusetts guidelines forbid gatherings of more than 50 people outdoors and 25 people indoors, social events throughout the North Shore in recent months have resulted in an uptick in cases, which leads local officials to beg the question: if residents are going to celebrate the holidays with others, how can they do it safely?
When asked how people might gather responsibly during these uncertain times, Lynn Board of Health Director Michele Desmarais said that even when spending time with family or close friends, those who live in separate households must remain exceedingly cautious in how they interact with one another to avoid the possibility of a superspreader event (when one person spreads the virus to a large number of people).
“Social gatherings are difficult during this time, especially now that our numbers (on the North Shore) have dramatically increased,” Desmarais said. “While doing contact tracing, we have found that many of the positive cases in Lynn are due to social gatherings.”
If people feel like they absolutely need to gather, then they must wear a mask, adhere to the six-foot rule, and follow all other proper social distancing measures, she said.
In addition, Desmarais cautioned against sharing utensils, drinks, or food, and she warned that alcohol can lead to lapses in judgment, which, during COVID, can have devastating consequences.
“I wouldn’t share food, I wouldn’t share a drink,” she said. “It’s too complicated right now to try to safely have a large social gathering.”
This year, trick-or-treating has decidedly not been canceled, however, with many towns leaving it up to individual households to decide if they want to celebrate a traditional Halloween.
For the most part, local officials are asking residents to stick to the usual safety guidelines or turn their lights off if they aren’t interested in participating.
“We believe that if you follow the guidance, it’s actually pretty safe,” said Nahant Town Administrator Tony Barletta. “It’s really up to the parents and homeowners and we’re providing them the guidelines to do it in a safe way.”
To combat the problem of too many gatherings, some North Shore communities have also teamed up with other neighboring towns as part of a regionalized effort to educate residents on how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
“I think the biggest challenge we have is that we’re dealing with a lot of fatigue,” said Revere mayor Brian Arrigo last month. “A lot of residents are fed up with what we’re asking them to do, and they’re fed up with all of the restrictions that come with living in the COVID era.”
At the end of the day, he said, it’s about taking care of each other.
“I know people are tired of hearing it, but I have to continue to say and make it clear that if people are going to gather, to make sure they keep it small. If they’re out and about, please wear a mask, and being outside is obviously better than being inside.”
Desmarais added: “I think we’re all trying to send the same message that everybody needs to stay safe and aware of COVID-19.”
