Norwegian Prime Minister: Here’s how children can celebrate a safe Halloween

The Prime Minister and the Director of Health believe this year’s Halloween celebration is no joke – it should be carried out in a safe way. 

“If you know those who live in their neighborhood well, and if your parents plan who you visit, then it is possible to go trick or treating,” Erna Solberg (H) told news bureau NTB.

Halloween is traditionally celebrated next Saturday, on October 31. 

For many children, it means dressing up and walking around the neighborhood, chanting “trick or treat” in order to get candy.

A different year

Health director Bjørn Guldvog is aware that this year’s trick or treating will be somewhat different than previous years.

“You can’t walk around to everyone in the neighborhood as you may have done in the past,” Guldvog said.

“If you know other families in the neighborhood well, then you can plan to visit each other,” he added.

The National Institute of Public Health (FHI) believes that the risk of infection through trick or treating can be considered low if people follow certain advice. 

The FHI’s guidelines are enumerated below:

• Those who ring doorbells and those who open the door must be healthy.
• Go trick or treating in small groups, with people you usually hang out with.
• The person who opens the door should also hand out candy. Keep your hands clean. 
• Wait to eat the candy until the round is over, and you have washed/sprayed your hands.
• Do not share sweets.

New rules

On Monday, it became clear that the government will allow children in kindergarten and primary school to celebrate birthdays and Halloween with their cohort. 

Thus, the rule of a maximum of five guests at events does not apply to the youngest.

“The children will be allowed to be with kids they already spend a lot of time with,” Minister of Education Guri Melby (V) said at Monday’s corona press conference.

“We do not have to be as strict with the youngest as we are with the adults,” Melby added.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today