Montreal (AFP)
The coronavirus pandemic is not a reason to cancel the great Halloween party in Canada if all precautions are taken, starting with respect for barrier gestures, Canadian public health authorities said Tuesday.
"In my opinion, this is an important occasion. We have to keep events, important occasions for our society and it is very important for the children", explained Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy head of Public Health Canada, asked about the risks surrounding the Halloween celebration.
"I encourage Halloween but with good public health practices," said Mr. Njoo, stressing that it is "possible to give candy, to receive candy in a safe way".
But the collection of the treats on October 31 will have to be done outside the houses, insisted Dr Theresa Tam, chief administrator of the federal agency.
And she encourages creative ways to play by the rules, such as making the mask part of the costume or handing out candy on the end of a "hockey stick" or using a "pool fry" to mark a distance between. children.
Ultimately, given the disparity in the number of cases from one region to another in Canada, whether or not the event should be held should be the responsibility of the local authorities, however, they concluded.
As of Tuesday, Canada recorded 185,371 cases of coronavirus and 9,645 deaths.
© 2020 AFP