After this week’s thriller of a storm, fall is certainly
here. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean mosquitoes have quieted their activity.
Until the first hard frost of the season, a period of at
least four consecutive hours of temperatures below 28 degrees, the threat of
EEE (Eastern equine encephalitis virus), which is spread by mosquitoes, is
still in the air. Which means some Massachusetts cities are reconsidering the
times trick-or-treaters will be allowed on the streets, especially in
communities still at critical risk.
Most communities deemed “high and critical” risk—such as
Framingham, Sudbury, and Hopkinton, among others—have already made changes to
regularly scheduled outdoor activities like school football games.
But as Halloween approaches and there’s still no sign of
frosty temps, towns are looking at other ways to minimize risk. The mayor of
Methuen, James Jajuga, announced on October 4, trick-or-treating will be
limited from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. instead of the traditional hours of 5-7 p.m.
“Based on the weather projections for the rest of this
month, it is unlikely that such a hard frost will happen before Halloween,”
Jajuga said in a statement. “While no one welcomes this inconvenience, I will
continue to prioritize the health and safety of the children and other
residents of Methuen.”
Officials in Uxbridge, Easton, Carver, Grafton, and
Brookfield—other communities in Massachusetts at high risk for the virus—are
waiting a little longer before coming to a decision about changing the time.
Jeffrey Landine, the chairman of the Brookfield Recreation Committee, said
officials have been discussing contingency plans for Halloween, according to
the Boston Globe.
This season alone, there have been 12 human cases of EEE
reported and four deaths in the state of Massachusetts. The State Department of
Public Health urges those in critical areas to be inside by 6 p.m. and to wear
long pants and sleeves while outside in the evenings.
It’s rare to wish for the first hard freeze, but in this
case, it would most certainly be welcomed.
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2019/10/18/eee-trick-or-treaters-boston/
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