Halloween is one of those holidays that both kids and adults alike look forward to the most. It’s always fun to dress up in costume, take the children trick or treating, and then secretly raid their candy stash afterwards, mostly to ensure that they don’t end up with too much sugar racing through their veins (And yes, the parents end up with plenty of leftover candy as well.). However, like everything else this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted this fun-filled, candy-laden holiday. So, now the question remains: is it safe to go trick or treating? Are there other reasonable options that will keep you safe, yet still allow you to enjoy Halloween? What should you do?
Traditional Trick or Treating May Spread the Virus
There’s a reason why many communities around the United States have essentially canceled their trick or treating activities – the tradition of going from house to house can help COVID-19 spread throughout the neighborhood in a hurry. All it takes is one person who is asymptomatic to get everyone else sick. The COVID-19 particles can end up in the air, where they are picked up by both adults and kids in the vicinity. This means that even when wearing a mask, you shouldn’t personally hand candy to every kid that comes by, nor should you take your children trick or treating and have them walk up to houses to receive candy from strangers.
The Problem with Trunk or Treat
Unfortunately, since trunk or treating activities, which involve decorated cars lining up in a parking lot with their trunks open and plenty of candy available for kids, involve a lot of children and adults congregating in one space, the virus has a good chance of spreading there as well. It can be hard to stay socially distant during one of these activities, so this festive activity isn’t highly recommended either.
Some Good News
On the other hand, it is safer to be outdoors, as the virus dissipates more in the open air. This means that trick or treating outside can be safe, as long as you take a number of precautions. Here is what the experts recommend:
- Stay in a Small Group – It’s fine for a handful of kids to go trick or treating with one or two adults, especially if the group plays and socializes together all of the time outside of the holiday. With that said, they should wear masks (and not just the Halloween kind), as well as stay a socially distant, six feet apart from other groups of people.
- Place Candy Outside – Instead of handing candy through the door to every child that arrives, place a bowl outside and allow them to help themselves. Another option involves placing the candy in small sealed treat bags and having each child take one. This minimizes the amount of contact between everyone, while allowing the kids to collect the Halloween treats that they looked forward to receiving.
- Keep Your Hands Clean – Upon arriving home after trick or treating, wash your hands. Your kids need to do the same as well. You don’t have to sanitize every piece of candy, but a thorough hand washing is definitely a must. With that said, if you’re wary, carry hand sanitizer with you on your trick or treat journey and have your children use it every so often.
Halloween can still be a fun family activity, as long as you take the right precautions and follow the guidelines set up by the CDC and other experts. While there’s no need to cancel the holiday altogether, it’s important to practice social distancing, keep your hands sanitized, and be mindful in general to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.