Marlborough OKs Trick-Or-Treating As Coronavirus Cases Rise

MARLBOROUGH, MA — You can trick-or-treat in Marlborough this Halloween — if you dare.

Mayor Arthur Vigeant on Wednesday said the city would condone trick-or-treating, even as the city remains a "high-risk" community for coronavirus spread, according to state data.

"We hope families can enjoy this annual tradition while practicing social distancing, mask-wearing and good hygiene," Vigeant said in a statement. "We’ve had to cancel all events to date through this pandemic, and we feel it’s better for kids and their families to enjoy Halloween outdoors rather than inside."

Other high-risk communities, like Worcester and Springfield, have banned trick-or-treating this year.

Marlborough was adding 19.9 new cases per day on average over the past two weeks (per 100,000 people), according to state data. That's a high not seen since the first surge last spring, and up from the 12.0 cases per day on average reported on Oct. 7. The city added 121 new cases over the past two weeks. And cases are shifting toward young people. As of Wednesday, 34 of the city's 78 active cases were in people under age 19.

Marlborough Public Schools is also switching to fully-remote classes due to the rise in cases.

State health officials and the Centers for Disease Control are recommending trick-or-treaters — and people giving out candy — act differently this year to stay safe. Here are some tips:

• Wear a face covering, even if a mask is part of a costume.
• Trick or treaters should stay in family units called "bubbles."
• Don't crowd houses. Allow a group to depart a home before approaching for candy.
• Give only prepackaged candy, and only hand it out while outdoors on a porch or stairs.
• Wear a face covering while handing out candy.
• Use gloves or tongs to dispense candy, no bare hands — and no communal bowls.
• Offer hand sanitizer to trick-or-treaters.
• Maintain 6 feet of distance between trick-or-treaters and candy-givers.
• Trick-or-treating hours should be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• If you feel sick, don't go trick-or-treating, and don't hand out candy.
• Turn porch lights off if there's no candy to give.