Sunday October 31, 2021 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
Today is Halloween, and the gloves are off, so to speak, for a more active Halloween than we saw last year during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year there were plenty of precautions about social distancing and how to hand out candy. This year the emphasis is on outdoors-better-than-indoors, and still advising against indoor parties where there is more likelihood of ‘shared air’.
Communities have chosen again this year to hold drive-throughs to give out Halloween candy, as a way to minimize contact during the pandemic but still have a fun event for kids and families. At the Langford Fire Rescue drive-through for Halloween today at Westshore Town Centre (2 to 5 pm), all 500 candy kits were handed out within the first hour; after that full-size chocolate bars were handed out.
There has been great weather today with clear blue skies and pleasant daytime temperatures (about 14°C in the afternoon), and skies will remain clear this evening during trick-or-treating.
Airborne virus:
COVID is finally and fully recognized as an airborne virus, unlike last year when for some reason public health wouldn’t come right out and say that.
Current COVID issues:
Current issues in the continuing COVID fight include upcoming vaccination approvals for children age 5 to 11, the rollout of boosters (a third shot) under conditions of waning immunity, and issues around travel and use of the BC Vaccine card.
Last week crowd gathering sizes were liberated to 100% capacity while following other public health protocols. Mask-wearing by anyone over the age of 5 years was earlier this month mandated for public spaces and this past week Minister Dix announced that the mandate continues indefinitely during the ongoing pandemic.
Next COVID update:
A few weeks ago Provincial Health Officer Dr Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix were still trying to steer the momentum of the pandemic, declaring that their weekly media briefings would be on Tuesdays. But they had to call one on a Thursday recently, and the next one is tomorrow, on Monday November 1 at 11 am (on the usual livestreams).
