Door-to-door trick-or-treating not allowed in Ventura County amid COVID-19 pandemic - VC Star

And, pumpkin carving parties should go virtual, according to new pandemic guidance from Ventura County Public Health.

Robert Levin, the county's public health officer, told county supervisors during their meeting Tuesday.

"Next year," he said, "we're going to be able to have trick-or-treating again, but not this year.".

I have lots of friends that have kids and to hear that they really can't do Halloween is going to hit people pretty hard," Supervisor Kelly Long said Tuesday. .

She asked Levin whether alternatives would be possible such as in parks or trick-or-treating at restaurants or churches. .

These aren't normal times, Levin said, and trick-or-treating is an activity where the virus can spread.

Ventura County's total number of coronavirus cases has reached nearly 11,700, including 10 new cases reported Tuesday.

That's the lowest number of cases reported in any one day since early June, according to Erin Slack, an epidemiologist with county public health.

COVID-19 numbers rose in early June following a Memorial Day weekend that in Ventura County coincided with newly reopened restaurants and other businesses. Then in mid-July, after Independence Day, cases surged higher.

County officials had warned that gatherings over Labor Day weekend could again bring a sharp increase. Levin said Tuesday that any bump likely would start to show up over the next several days or so.

Guidance may allow gatherings up to a certain number of people, he said.

Ventura County has met the positivity rate requirement, but has yet to do so with its case rate. It needs to have no more than an average of seven new cases a day for 100,000 people

On Tuesday, county officials said they have asked the state to consider flexibility, including more of an adjustment because of its high testing rate as well as other factors

A recent outbreak in county jails identified 85 positive coronavirus cases