By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Ghosts and ghouls can walk among the living on Halloween, as long as they avoid large groups and interpersonal contact, said state and county officials.
Mayor Mitch Roth said Monday that he will not issue any county-specific rules for Halloween, instead encouraging families to simply “use common sense” to avoid spreading COVID-19.
“We’re just asking trick-or-treaters to stay in small groups, maintain social distancing, don’t knock on doors where the lights are off,” Roth said. “As long as people do the things we’ve been doing, it should be fine.”
The state Department of Health issued a list of Halloween safety guidance on Monday, advising families how to celebrate Halloween without spreading COVID-19. That list of tips includes basic advice such as “stay home if you are feeling sick” and “wash your hands before eating candy” but also recommends setting up pre-packaged treats for trick-or-treaters to minimize contact and to hold gatherings outdoors instead of inside.
The DOH also advises that Halloween costume masks are not a suitable substitute for a sturdy nose-and-mouth covering, and recommends people integrate COVID-mitigating masks into their costumes.
“Celebrating Halloween is a special event for families, and it is possible to take steps to celebrate safely. Outdoor gatherings are safer, and consistent handwashing and mask wearing are recommended,” said state Health Director Elizabeth Char in a statement. “All children 12 and older are eligible to be vaccinated and that is really the best way to keep our children safe during Halloween and the upcoming holidays.”
Roth and Char’s recommendations are a far cry from last year, when Char and then-mayor Harry Kim encouraged residents to forgo traditional trick-or-treat events altogether because of the spread of COVID.
But with new statewide COVID case numbers declining day-by-day — 117 new cases were reported statewide Monday, 29 of which were on the Big Island — Roth said it makes sense to continue loosening restrictions.
Roth recently announced new rules about gathering sizes, increasing the maximum allowable outdoor gathering size from 10 to 25 people, with allowances for 50-person organized recreational gatherings at outdoor county facilities. Tents and canopies are also allowed on beaches once again, and county pavilions are usable with proper permits for use.
Roth’s latest rules do not include changes to indoor gathering sizes, which remain limited to a maximum of 10 people. However, he said Monday that he is looking at increasing indoor gathering sizes soon: starting on Nov. 1, he said, gathering sizes will increase at county gyms and indoor park facilities, although he did not say by how much.
“We want to get people moving again,” Roth said, noting that increased physical activity leads to a stronger immune system.
On the other hand, the state and county should be cautious about opening up too quickly, said Tim Brown, research fellow at the University of Hawaii’s East-West Center, during a livestreamed interview Monday.
“If we lift some restrictions and wait a couple weeks and nothing changes, then we should move to the next step,” Brown said. “Lifting the restrictions all at once would be potentially very hazardous.”
Brown said the state should continue to implement its Safe Travels program for visitors and residents as well as keep up all masking requirements for indoor spaces at least through the holidays.
“During the holidays, people tend to let their guard down, which gives potential for spreading the virus, especially if families are getting together or are traveling from the mainland,” Brown said. “People should continue to mask in public spaces because vaccination alone will not stop the transmission of Delta.”
Roth said there have been no further developments regarding a travel program he proposed in September that would create a publicly accessible list of people who chose to quarantine for 10 days rather than submit proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from three days before arrival on the island.
However, Roth noted that the U.S. Congress is considering a bill that would require domestic travelers to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight. Should that bill be passed, it would render his list proposal moot.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
