White House to Open for Halloween Trick-Or-Treating This Weekend, Melania Trump Says

By Mary Anne R. Oct 24 2020, 01:04 AM EDT

First lady Melania Trump said Friday that the White House would open its ground for a Halloween trick-or-treating event on Oct. 25.

Gates will open to frontline workers, military families, and schoolchildren with their parents from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

"The White House grounds will open to ghosts, fairies, superheroes, tiny goblins and other costumed trick-or-treaters as celebrations commence for the Trump Administration's fourth annual Halloween festivities at the White House," the first lady said in a statement.

Melania noted that this year's Halloween event at the White House would showcase a vibrant display of bright-colored leaves that will surround the South Portico columns in different shades of autumn.

The first lady added that an array of chrysanthemums would also cascade down the East and West staircases, and it will be intermixed with festive pumpkins for the costumed trick-or-treaters to see.

The president and the first lady are expected to greet the trick-or-treaters as they pass by the White House's South Portico.

Like in the previous years, some government agencies and departments will join the Trumps to offer goodies for the children and provide various fun activities.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will display an inflatable rocket and some space-related items. Children will also see Smokey the Bear at the Department of Agriculture station and get a Junior Ranger badge and paper ranger hat at the Department of Interior booth.

Kids can also pick up paper airplanes at the Department of Transportation station. The Department of Education and the Department of Labor, on the other hand, will both offer fun photo opportunities.

Set to provide an array of traditional Halloween songs and modern tunes for the festivities is the United States Air Force Strolling Strings.

The White House said extra precautionary measures would be implemented to ensure the health and safety of all guests who will join in this year's Halloween celebration.

According to a White House statement, all attendees must follow the measures to be implemented, such as social distancing, wearing masks, and the "no-touch approach" when giving their gifts to kids.

It added that the number of guests would be limited, hand sanitizer will also be available throughout the event, and each department's staff will be required to wear gloves.

President Donald Trump and his wife Melania tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 2. They both reportedly recovered from the virus.

Tricky Halloween

The D.C. government earlier released a set of guidelines highlighting ways on how the residents can celebrate Halloween during the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also released its own guidelines to celebrate the Halloween season safely.

CDC recommends avoiding direct contact with trick-or-treaters, and giving out treats must be done outdoors if possible. The CDC also advised to set up a station with separate bags for kids to take, and most importantly, to wash hands and wear masks regularly.

Doctors said they are looking at the CDC's guidelines when considering how to advise the public in areas like this. Dr. Michael Vinograd, chief of pediatrics at York Hospital, said they are gaining more knowledge of how this virus spreads.

Vinograd noted that this is not a usual Halloween. "They need to practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. There is the potential for an outbreak from this type of activity," Vinograd said in a Seacoast Online report.

The United States on Friday reported the most COVID-19 cases in a day since the pandemic started, with more than 82,000 cases, a Washington Post report said. It broke the single-day record of more than 6,000 cases on July 16.

A new study warned that the pandemic is seen to cause half a million American deaths by February, according to a The Guardian report.

Cases are surging in many states, particularly in the upper midwest. It appears to be a third major peak of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. This could lead to about 300,000 people dying in just the next four months.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said that Trump has yet to meet the White House coronavirus task force for several months now. The task force body itself meets less frequently than it did earlier at the beginning of the pandemic.