Halloween is BACK ON: Downing Street says trick-or-treating CAN go ahead as long as people follow the rules on social distancing and household mixing in their local area

• Downing Street today said coronavirus Tier restrictions apply to trick-or-treating
• No10 said parents should use their ‘common sense’ to decide if kids should go 

Downing Street today urged parents to show ‘common sense’ on Halloween this weekend as the Government said trick-or-treating can go ahead as long as people stick to the local coronavirus rules.  

There had been fears the Government’s tiered system of restrictions would make it impossible for people to enjoy the celebration as they normally would on October 31.  

And while large indoor gatherings will not be allowed anywhere in the UK, Number 10 suggested at lunchtime that children will still be able to go door to door to ask their neighbours for sweets in most areas. 

However, different rules in different parts of the country on household mixing and social distancing mean parents face a potential headache as they try to ensure they stay on the right side of the rules. 

Downing Street today urged parents to use their ‘common sense’ this weekend when it comes to children trick-or-treating. Boris Johnson is pictured at a hospital in Reading today

Number 10 said the Government’s coronavirus Tier restrictions must be stuck to during Halloween on October 31

England is currently split into three different coronavirus alert levels: Medium, High Risk and Very High Risk. 

In Medium risk areas the Rule of Six is in place as well as the Government’s basic social distancing requirements. 

In High Risk areas there is a ban on households mixing indoors but multiple households can mix outdoors, including in a private garden. The Rule of Six remains in place in those settings.     

In Very High Risk areas there is a ban on households mixing indoors and outdoors in a private garden. However, households can still mix in certain outdoor public spaces like parks. 

This means that trick-or-treating can go ahead in Medium risk areas as long as the Rule of Six is stuck to and in High Risk areas as long as people also do not mix indoors. 

The situation is less clear in Very High Risk areas but the guidance suggests that people can still trick or treat as long as they do not enter a private garden to do so. 

The rules suggest that homes which open up straight onto a street can be called at but those with a garden may have to rely on leaving sweets on a wall or passing them over a garden fence.

Asked about the prospect of trick-or-treating being banned this year, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said parents needed to use their ‘common sense’. 

‘The rules are those which apply to household mixing in general and what that means in practice is if you in a Very High alert level then you cannot mix with other households indoors or in private outdoor spaces,’ he said. 

‘If you’re in a High Covid alert level then the Rule of Six applies in private gardens and outdoor spaces but households must not mix indoors.

‘And in terms of the Medium alert level, you can meet indoors and outdoors in groups of no more than six people.

‘The rules are there for all circumstances and people will have to use their common sense in ensuring they are following the rules.’

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