Families, state and local leaders react to CDC’s trick-or-treating guidance

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — On the first day of fall, the CDC has issued its guidance for Halloween. It discourages many of the hallmark traditions, including trick-or-treating, costume masks, and parties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was asked what Colorado’s guidance for Halloween will be at a press conference Tuesday. 

“I have not seen the CDC guidance,” Polis said. “We encourage people to reduce their interactions with others. If there’s a need in Colorado, we can work to provide that guidance. I think there’s probably a safe way to do that, where, rather than the face-to-face interactions, there’s candy that can be left at doors.”

El Paso County Public Health is waiting on state recommendations before issuing its guidance for Halloween. However, the health department told KRDO its guidance will likely depend on how the virus is trending in El Paso County leading up to Halloween. 

Most parents on KRDO’s Facebook page claim they’ll take their kids trick-or-treating no matter what. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year.

“Yeah I think we’re comfortable enough to go out," Marina Reyes said. "So if people leave candy in their trunks or on their porches for us to grab, we can do that.”

Melissa Svenby's house is decked out for the holiday. She says several cars drive by to look at the decorations daily, which have been up since Labor Day. Now she's looking ahead to Halloween.

"We even thought about maybe doing something in the yard and having the candy accessible where they don't even have to come to the door," she said.

Only time will tell if the virus scares off most families, leaving just a skeleton of the holiday so many kids love.