LIGHTHOUSE POINT IMPOSES RESTRICTIONS FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS DUE TO COVID-19
Marie Puleo
October 31, 2020
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BY MARIE PULEO | LIGHTHOUSE POINT NEWS REPORTER
Trick-or-treaters in Lighthouse Point will be required to follow certain restrictions this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Per an emergency order issued by Mayor Glenn Troast, no trick-or-treating will be allowed after 9pm on Halloween night. Groups of individuals must be limited to a maximum of 10 people, including trick-or-treaters and chaperones.
Anyone trick-or-treating, including adult chaperones, must wear a mask that complies with CDC guidelines. The CDC recommends that people don’t wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it difficult to breathe. The CDC suggests people use Halloween-themed cloth masks instead.
Troast said the emergency order was implemented because, due to COVID-19, “a lot of our residents, particularly elderly residents, were very concerned about having large groups of people out on Halloween.”
The mayor’s order states that “no uninvited persons shall approach a residence where there is an indication that uninvited guests, such as trick-or-treaters, are not welcome, including signage or lack of exterior lighting.”
“There are folks that are concerned about people coming up to their house,” said Troast, so trick-or-treaters “should respect that.”
“You can’t ban Halloween,” said Troast, “and I wouldn’t want to,” but the restrictions are “a reasonable compromise.”
Troast clarified that the 9pm time limit mentioned in the emergency order is not a curfew, just an end-time for trick-or-treating.
The Lighthouse Point police will enforce the emergency order.
Troast said the city always has “a significant law enforcement presence on Halloween,” but this year, if police see trick-or-treaters out past 9pm, those people will be asked to go home.
The emergency order took effect at 12:01am on Oct. 31, 2020 and will remain in effect until 12:01am on November 2, 2020.
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