Chalmers is planning a party for Halloween despite the crown

Bouncy castle, karaoke, and a host of different bars – that’s what’s planned when the annual Chalmers Halloween party takes place. Despite the corona pandemic, the party is scheduled for this year in the usual order. Something that made some students react.

– It feels very strange, that there are so many people in our age group that brings together so many. We are among the most infected right now, says a Chalmers student who wants to remain anonymous for GP.

A total of 99 people have already indicated that they intend to attend the event, which is available on Facebook. And up to 700 have signed up as interested in the party.

But according to David Welander, president of the Chalmers student unions involved in organizing the party, efforts have been made to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.

– First of all, I want to emphasize that this is not an open event. So there won’t be as many as he says at the event on Facebook, he says.

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The party had to be canceled

According to the student union, organizers are in the early stages of planning for the party, which will take place in November, and great emphasis has been placed on making it as contagious as possible. There will be no dance floor and it is unclear how many students will be able to attend the party.

– What happened is that we went out with a date for the party.

Infection control doctor Thomas Wahlberg, in Smittskydd Västra Götaland, warns of the kind of parties that Chalmers student unions intend to continue.

– Precisely at these types of parties when many people gather in small areas and you easily forget to keep their distance, something does not feel particularly appropriate at the moment, he says.

He emphasizes that it is important to bear in mind that the spread of covid-19 has gained momentum during the fall, especially in the youth group.

– I run the risk of becoming a joy killer for this party, but you have to be very careful when it comes to events like this right now, says Thomas Wahlberg.

The Uppsala party was canceled at the last minute

SVT Nyheter has previously written about similar events in Uppsala. There, a student party planned for 400 people was canceled at the last minute after several found out and were concerned about the spread of the infection.

But according to David Welander, no student has heard from him or been concerned about Chalmers’ Halloween party.

– But of course we are prepared to make quick decisions. We will think of the whole. Make sure there are no queues and make sure everyone can sit at a safe distance, he says.

David Welander believes that it is easy to get the impression that it is irresponsible to have the Halloween party, because the parties have been very well attended in previous years. But this year, visitors, among other things, will be able to go to the party in rounds.

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Pubsmitta

At the same time, several students fell ill with covid-19 in early fall. All of the affected students had stayed at one of Chalmers’ student bars.

– It is not clear if the infection has spread to the pub. But of course we take it into account. The current section that organized the pub has canceled its upcoming events, says David Welander.

But isn’t it better to be on the safe side and host bigger parties, like the Halloween party?

– What we see is that the health of students deteriorates at a dizzying rate when there is a lot of distance learning. That’s why we think it’s important for students to be seen in an orderly manner rather than at casual hall parties, he says.

– It should be noted that it is a professional activity like other pub activities in the city. It’s arranged with our restaurant company and it’s not an irresponsible student party, he continues.