Despite concerns expressed by national health officials, “Trick or Treat Night” Oct. 30 in Salisbury Township is being reaffirmed.

“I know the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] put out a recommendation on not having Halloween. Is everyone still good with having trick or treat Oct. 30?” township board of commissioners President Deb Brinton asked.

The commissioners, based on the Sept. 24 meeting they attended via the Zoom online format, agreed trick or treating could be allowed as planned 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30 in Salisbury.

“The township is not really organizing it, so it’s not our responsibility,” Commissioner Alok Patnaik said.

Salisbury Township Fire Service Director Dustin Grow said the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company Swain Station would be open Oct. 30 for trick-or-treaters as it has in the past.

Township commissioners discussed trick or treat night at their Sept. 10 meeting. By consensus, they said they didn’t want to dictate not having the annual event, and parents could decide whether or not they wanted their children to participate.

The CDC issued the following warning Sept. 21 on its website:

“Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses.”

The CDC recommends:

“Participating in one-way trick or treating where individually wrapped goody bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard).”

The CDC urges avoiding higher-risk activities, including:

“Participating in traditional trick or treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door;

“Having trunk or treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots;

“Attending crowded costume parties held indoors;

“Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming;

“Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household, and

“Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behaviors.”

The CDC website also states:

“Do not use costume masks in place of cloth masks.

“Do not use a costume mask (such as for Halloween) as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around your face.

“Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.”

Here’s the link to the CDC recommendations for trick or treat night, other Halloween activities and holiday celebrations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween.