L.A. Bans Trick or Treating This Halloween – Should More Cities?

What's the story?

• Mandalorians, Harley Quinns, Sonics, and Hamiltons won't be knocking on your door this October 31 if you live in Los Angeles. County health officials have released Halloween guidelines that restrict many of the holiday's traditions during the coronavirus pandemic.

What's banned?

The county Department of Public Health has banned:

• Door-to-door trick-or-treating - Officials say "it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors."
• "Trunk or treating" - Children will not be allowed to go car-to-car, either.
• Parties.
• Carnivals, festivals, haunted houses.

What is allowed?

"Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated does not allow you to minimize contact with non-household members, it is important to plan early and identify safer alternatives," writes the Dept. of Public Health. These alternatives include:

• Online parties/contests (costume or pumpkin carving).
• Car parades.
• Halloween movie nights at drive-ins.
• Decorating homes and yards.

What do you think?

Should more cities ban trick and/or treating?

—Josh Herman