Hello neighbors!
We have received a few inquiries from residents about Halloween trick-or-treating in the neighborhood during these COVID-19 pandemic times. We encourage residents to make the decisions they feel is best for their family in choosing whether to participate in any activities. Please see the below guidelines.
– If you ARE giving out candy, please turn ON your porch/garage coach lights.
– If you are NOT giving out candy, please turn OFF your porch/garage coach lights.
*Note: Please ensure your family respects these guidelines. If a home has no porch lights on, please do not knock on the door or ring the doorbell. We have some in the community who are at higher health risk, have different work/sleep schedules or simply do not wish to participate, and this will help ensure we are respecting the safety of everyone.
Helping to ensure a safe event
For those that will be doing trick or treating this year, your Board of Directors has worked to with Orange County Sheriff’s Office to have a Sheriff’s Deputy doing traffic and parking enforcement within the Reserve during the above Trick or Treat times to help ensure a safe area while there may be kids and families around.
Florida Department of Health Halloween Safety:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/10/101920-fdoh-encourages-halloween-safety.pr.html
CDC guidance for Halloween activities:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
For example, they recommend that residents do not participate in traditional trick-or-treating where Halloween treats are handed directly to children who go door to door. As a safer alternative, they suggest one-way trick-or-treating, where residents who want to participate put out treats ahead of time, and then families with children may walk by and grab some while remaining physically distanced from one another.
If you believe you have COVID-19 or have recently been in contact with someone that has the virus, you should refrain from participating in these activities. Recommendations for safe and effective face coverings are also provided on these websites.
Thank you for your consideration of these recommendations, as it is in the interest of our entire community to help keep both ourselves and our neighbors healthy and safe.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at hoa@reserveatsawgrass.com.
Kindest Regards,
Brian Toy
President, Board of Directors
Reserve at Sawgrass Homeowners Association