Despite rising cases of COVID-19 the last month, Halloween in Hamden is still on. The police department issued safety tips this week amid the uncertainty due to the pandemic.
“The Hamden Police Department would like to take this opportunity to wish our residents a happy Halloween,” Capt. Ronald Smith wrote in a news release. “We hope the evening is filled with excitement. Of equal importance is everyone’s safety.”
Halloween is on a Saturday this year as well, so the town is prepared for a lot of busy streets with activity, and will have plenty of police presence.
“The Hamden Police Department will assign additional manpower to help ensure the safety of our residents,” Smith said. “Please help make this a safe and enjoyable evening for all our residents.”
The Hamden police department also introduced a number of COVID-19 protocols to avoid confusion on Halloween night.
“Wear a cloth mask, a costume mask is not a substitute,” the guidelines read. “Various other rules such as social distancing, using hand sanitizer often, distributing candy outdoors if possible, and trying to leave candy outside to avoid contact were all included as well.
Connecticut does not seem to be on the same page when it comes to Halloween from town -to -town. The severity of the rules and guidelines varying as much as it does displays that where you go will determine how strict your Halloween is.
While Hamden is set to go, just a few days ago Gov.ernor Ned Lamont and the Department of Public Health recommended modifying this year’s Halloween fun to adhere to necessary guidelines.
“Traditional trick-or-treating is a high-risk activity,” the Department of Health stated. “The CDC and CT DPH recommends participating in one-way trick-or-treating where goodie bags or large bowls of candy are placed outside to socially distance.”
Hamden and the state are on the same page in that sense, but it seems as if the state is trying to get towns to be as cautious as possible.
With cases spiking in the area due to the fall weather, the outdoor event has been a reason for caution for Quinnipiac students as well.
“I love Halloween so much, you have no idea,” said Hannah Corrado, a nursing student at Quinnipiac. “But, unfortunately this year there are bigger things to worry about. I will not be going out or doing anything, as much as I would for senior year. It just wouldn’t be worth the trouble or hardship that could come along with it.”
Other students are not going out, but still plan to enjoy the Halloween festivities indoors with roommates.
“We are going to stay home and sort of do our own thing,” said Nicko Poulianas, a finance major. “Even though it is senior year and a party or bar would be fun, that just is not reality right now. I like that I have nothing to worry about hanging with my roommates and having fun here, though.”
With so many unknowns that are coming with Halloween night this year, towns across the country will try to limit the spread as much as they can, regardless of differing guidelines.