The Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) has issued guidance on restrictions around upcoming faith and community events for the remainder of 2020 due to coronavirus. The final sentence of the press release from Angie Ridgwell, Chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, says: ‘Unfortunately, trick or treating will not be permitted this year as it would increase the risk of household transmissions.’

The full press release says:

‘In line with national restrictions on numbers at events and our strong advice in Lancashire to avoid households mixing, the decision has been taken to prohibit large scale events to mark these occasions in Lancashire

The restrictions relate to upcoming events including:

• Prophet Muhammad’s birthdate – 28 and 29 October
• Halloween – 31 October
• Bonfire celebrations – 5 to 7 November
• Remembrance Sunday – 8 November
• Diwali – 14 November
• Hanukkah – 10 – 18 December
• The switching on of Christmas lights.

We know these are important events for everyone in our community and we’re sorry that we have to do this. We haven’t taken these decisions lightly and really grateful for your support. By following this guidance we will all limit the spread of coronavirus and help keep people safe.

While Lancashire continues to experience a rapid increase of coronavirus cases that puts the county among the highest level of transmissions in the country, large scale community events create too great a risk for the public.

It is vital that we all work together to follow these regulations and avoid the temptation to break the rules on visiting other people’s homes or gardens to celebrate these events putting yourself and others at risk.

We are working with various faith and business groups as well as charitable and community organisations – such as the British Legion – to see whether alternative arrangements can be made to mark these occasions.

Small scale or civic events, such as a ceremonial wreath laying, will be permitted providing permission has been sought from the relevant local authority. Any agreed event will have to be Covid-secure with no more than 15 people present, and no households mixing.

Unfortunately, trick or treating will not be permitted this year as it would increase the risk of household transmissions.’

Here is the link to the press release, the source of this important information:

https://www.preston.gov.uk/article/3218/Lancashire-Resilience-Forum-issues-guidance-on-faith-and-community-events

The Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) is the group of organisations that work together to prepare and respond to emergencies in Lancashire. The LRF involves the emergency services; local authorities; health agencies; the Environment Agency and Maritime Coastguard Agency. Providing help to the Forum are voluntary groups; transport providers; utility providers and local businesses. When an incident occurs, such as the current Coronavirus pandemic, then all members of the LRF work together to prevent the situation from getting worse, to save lives, to relieve suffering and to return normality as soon as possible.