60% of people I surveyed on Facebook say their family will be trick-or-treating this Halloween. It's an annual tradition that's really important to a lot of kids, so I understand wanting to give them some sense of normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic. Kids have had to give up so much this year; many parents don't want them to have to give up Halloween too. On the other hand, 40% of those surveyed feel trick-or-treating isn't worth the risk of contracting COVID-19. My son Trace LOVES Halloween! We will be celebrating, but we're doing it at home and online this year.
Experts say you don't have to give up Halloween; you just need to make some adjustments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during Halloween celebrations. They categorized common activities as either low risk, moderate, or high. I've listed a few activities in each category below. What Halloween activities do you and your family plan to participate in? What's the risk?
LOW RISK ACTIVITIES
pumpkin carving/decorating at home
scavenger hunt or trick-or-treat-style search at home
virtual costume party
Halloween movie night at home
MODERATE RISK ACTIVITES
grab-and-go trick-or-treating (wash hands thoroughly before eating treats)
visit pumpkin patch with masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing
attend small outdoor gathering with masks and social distancing
HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES
door-to-door trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children
attending crowded costume parties indoors
going to a crowded indoor haunted house
For more Halloween safety tips, check out this article from The New York Times.