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BOO! This year the Trick is on all of us
Photo: Mary Stewart’s suggestion for Halloween candy-giving.
Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. The CDC also has put out suggested low risk activities, and some at moderate risk, and those to avoid.
Over 172 million Americans are (were) expected to take part in Halloween activities. However, with the pandemic very much in full swing, we can expect that number to be reduced by 25%, at least. 53 percent plan to decorate their homes, 46 percent plan to carve a pumpkin and 18 percent will dress up their pet.
“Retailers are prepared to meet the increased demand for seasonal décor, costumes and other items that allow families the opportunity to observe Halloween safely,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.
This Wednesday
Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. The CDC also has put out suggested low risk activities, and some at moderate risk, and those to avoid.
Giving out candy?
SARS-CoV-2 particles can last up to 72 hours on plastic surfaces, but this landmark discovery was made in a laboratory setting, and most Halloween candy holds less surface area to harbor germs. Disinfecting each candy wrapper may be a bit over the top, Dr. Kesh explains, especially since you can naturally allow any potentially infectious surface germs to die off with time. “Something that you can also do is to put most of the candy away for the first three days that it’s in your home, and then the rest of the candy is safe to eat after the time has passed,” she advises.
We like Martha Stewart’s suggestion implied by the photo, above. But really, there is no safe way to do it. You could try the old-fashioned made up paper bags, lined up for kids to take – but that can get a little expensive. We, at RINewsToday, suggest skipping the house to house activity – giver or receiver. Before your little one(s) get too disappointed, put some effort into a special celebration at home, complete with costumes (of course!), contests, games, and that wonderful Halloween movie. Take a ride to the Spooktacular at Roger Williams Park (warning, it’s pretty expensive – $50 or so per car). As with everything, this will be a different kind of holiday,
Lower risk activities
These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
- Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Moderate risk activities
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
- If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
- Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
- Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
- Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.
Higher risk activities
Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
- Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19
Beyond the CDC!
Some other creative suggestions from a variety of sources:
- Leave candy out on the porch or front steps – in clear plastic bags, distanced aways apart from each other
- put up a clothesline in the yard with candy attached
- make a haunted house — but designed as a drive-thru so it could be pulled off with social distancing.
- Newport Recreation will host a special drive-thru Halloween Event on Saturday, October 31st at Easton’s Beach. Families will have the opportunity to drive thru the parking lot and trick or treat with the various vendors onsite.
- Haunted Labyrinth in Cranston – on Dyer Ave – is open.
- Check out Netflix – they have a whole array of movies for you and your family – from silly and fun – some for the little ones – and those scary ones, too.
Whatever you do put your “all” into helping your children have a good time – and you will enjoy it, too.
