New Jersey Bans Halloween Trick-Or-Treating Over Ebola Fears
Governor Chris Christie has cancelled trick-or-treating in the state of New Jersey Â this yearÂ out of fear of theÂ Ebola virus. According to localÂ reports, this so-called âHalloween Quarantineâ will be in effect Oct. 31Â  from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Children who violate the curfew ordersÂ will be arrested and their parents will face finds of up to $1,000. âIt would be silly for us to pretend Ebola is not a huge threat to New Jerseyans. We are smarter than that; hence, the Halloween Quarantine,â Christie told the New York Times. âThis has been a very hard decision. Trust me, the holiday whenÂ strangers hand you candy for free is near and dear to my heart. âBut I'm running for president in 2016, and I need to put political distance between myself and Barack Obama in order to win over Republican primary voters. Does this make medical sense? No. Does this unfairly punish children? Yes. But let's look at what's really important here: my political career.â Halloween Patrols will reportedly monitor neighborhoods to ensure kids stay inside. Patrol Officer Pete Sakes told the Jersey Times, âWe will arrest any kid on the street begging for candy. Parents will be fined for every brat we catch. We'll be holding the kids at local precincts until parents show up with the cash. We now also accept Bitcoin.â Christie is already under fire for his strict Ebola quarantine policy, which forces medical workers returning from treating Ebola patients in Africa to be locked away for 21 days upon their return. Most medical experts say the policy is counterproductive because it discourages doctors from traveling to Africa to fight the disease at its source. The Obama White House has called on Christie to reverse his stance, a move the governor has so far resisted. Kaci Hicox, a nurse who has been quarantined against her will, has described New Jersey'sÂ stance as aÂ "knee-jerk reaction by politicians.â The âHalloween Quarantineâ has every appearance of being a similar reaction. Although the Ebola virus only spreads though close bodily contact, the stateÂ somehowÂ concluded that having kids go door to door posed a health risk of spreading the deadly ebola virus. Upon hearing the news, protests immediately broke out Â to oppose the governor's anti-trick-or-treat Halloween Quarantine. A rally inÂ West Orange, N.J., claimed over 1,000 children attended to oppose Christie. Reporters at the event said one kid yelled âHeâs the Grinch of Halloween!â Another kid yelled, âHe wants all the candy for himself!â Chants broke out of âEbola sucks, candy rocksâ and âWe want treats, not your smelly feet.â Mary Young told the NJ Patch, âI had to explain to my kids that the government wonât let us celebrate Halloween. The youngest asked if it was because of the devil. I told him no, itâs because of politics. Jimmy is only 6 and has learned to hate politics.â The Young family will instead travel to their relatives in Pennsylvania to conduct the families trick or treating. âI canât believe we have to travel to a different state to have the kids get some candy. I know people drive to different states to buy alcohol on Sundays but for candy? This is America.â The family will return home Sunday when they plan on trick-or-treating, after the quarantine is lifted. âWhatâs Governor Christie going to do next? Make every day Halloween?â In a press conference, Christie responded to concerns with his trademark bluntness: âLook, I have the rightÂ to quarantine anyone I want at any time I want.Â The kids can trick or treat next year. Thatâs if Ebola doesnât take them out first.â