Will kids be able to go trick-or-treating in Ontario this Halloween?
Will kids be allowed to go trick-or-treating this year? That is the question parents and kids hope to find out later this week at a news conference with Ontario’s top doctor.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore hinted that more information will be released about the October holiday season, including Thanksgiving and Halloween, on Thursday.
Last year, officials urged kids in certain COVID-19 hot spots to avoid trick-or-treating in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. This included the regions of Toronto, Peel, York, and Ottawa.
“We’re trying to make it as safe and simple as possible, my friends, we all know this isn’t going to be a regular Halloween,” Premier Doug Ford said at the time. “We just can’t have hundreds of kids showing up at your door if you live in a hotspot, especially in an apartment building.”
For families living outside of the COVID-19 hotspots, they were told to only go trick-or-treating outdoors with members of their household. Masks were to be worn by both trick-or-treaters and those handing out candy, officials said while adding that a costume mask does not count.
On the day this was announced, Ontario had logged 704 COVID-19 cases. The seven-day average was higher than it is now, standing at about 733 on Oct. 19, 2020.
On Oct. 4 2021, the seven-day average was about 586.
Moore also said that specific guidelines for Thanksgiving will be released on Thursday, hinting that the rules will be similar to those already in place for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
“In a nutshell, if you're having family over and you're completely vaccinated, if you feel comfortable removing your masks, that would be absolutely appropriate in a fully vaccinated group,” Moore said.
Current restrictions on gatherings remain in place. One hundred people are allowed to gather outdoors with physical distance while indoor gatherings are restricted to 25 people.
“I think those are reasonable and safe numbers," Moore said.
If the group contains a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, Moore suggested that masks be worn while indoors. He also suggested that guests self-screen for COVID-19 prior to attending a gathering.
“Every long weekend like this, especially Thanksgiving where it's a social event where we have families getting together, we want to minimize the spread. We want families to embrace the opportunity to get back together for their mental, physical, social well being and we'll have that list of recommendations available on our website soon and we'll announce it on Thursday as well.”
The guidelines are expected to be released at Moore’s weekly news conference on Thursday afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.