The Scioto County Commissioners tentatively scheduled Trick-or-Treat for Saturday, October 31 from 5 – 7 pm. Commissioner Bryan Davis expressed concern that some communities had already canceled Halloween events due to COVID fears. He said:
“I’m very concerned. I’ve heard that California canceled Trick-or-Treat. I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.”
Davis said he’s already reached out to the health department to discuss the matter, and he pointed out that commissioners must deal with two health departments. He said …
“We take a lot of heat. There’s a lot of people who say we need to do what the health departments say. There’s others that say, no, we are a free America. We have to walk a tightrope because we are government officials. We have to abide. There are a lot of heated emotions … I did reach out to Dr. Martin. We’re kind of waiting on some guidance from ODH (Ohio Department of Health) on this.”
(Cyn Mackley. “Trick-Or-Treat Set For October 31.” Scioto County Daily News. September.)
In an update: The Portsmouth Daily Times reported on their Facebook page on October 6 that “Trick Or Treat for Scioto County and the City of Portsmouth is October 30th 5:30-7:30pm.”
Trick-Or-Treat?
First of all, let me say I love trick-or-treating. I loved going house to house as a kid, and I love handing out candy as an adult. Children enjoy dressing up in their creative costumes, and, of course, they adore getting candy. They get very excited about the traditional event, and they look forward to the enjoyable trek as a special part of the Halloween holiday fun.
This year, as the nation suffers the COVID-19 pandemic, trick-or-treating will present great challenges. To insure a safe event, all participants – children who participate, parents who accompany them, and those handing out treats – must make safety the foremost consideration. No one wants to spread the virus and make people ill.
The initial, big question looms large – Is trick-or-treating in 2020 safe?
That's a complicated question: Activities like house parties and school dances carry more risk, but trick-or-treating outside (especially in areas where outbreaks are mitigated) is less risky. However, heading outside won't eliminate all of the risks one must consider.
Sandra Kesh, M.D.an infectious disease specialist and the deputy medical director at New York's Westmed Medical Group, says …
"In an area where there's still ongoing community spread [and things] haven't gotten to the point where things are opening up again, I don't think trick-or-treating is a great idea. In areas where the community prevalence is lower, I think it's okay to plan to trick-or-treat, but it's going to be a different experience than it was last year."
What do recent statistics say about the spread of the virus in Ohio? The Ohio Department of Health released the latest COVID-19 case numbers, and they are not good. 1,300+ new cases were reported Saturday, October 10. Friday’s (October 9) new case number of 1,840 is the most one-day cases the state has recorded since the pandemic began.
Another worry – relying on those exposed to the coronavirus to avoid particiation. There are definitely people who should not participate with any in-person holiday celebrations and events. The CDC says people with or exposed to COVID-19 should not attend. Non-attendees include anyone who
Has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others
Has symptoms of COVID-19
Is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results
May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
Is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19
If you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should
Avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household.
Avoid larger gatherings and consider attending activities that pose lower risk if you decide to attend an in-person gathering with people who do not live in your household.
(“Holiday Celebrations.” Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.” September 21, 2020.)
Higher Risk
Trick-or-treating this year can be a “higher risk activity” that may spread COVID-19.
The CDC advises people to 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
Believe it or not, the biggest risk in trick-or-treating may not be the candy the kids will be receiving from each of the neighbors: "[Scientists] have found that most of the surface [bacteria], it's thought to not be the main mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission… Getting a piece of candy from a house, bringing it home, and then eating it, I think that's less problematic," Dr. Kesh says.
Infectious disease experts say the most significant risk in trick-or-treating is spending time in close contact with those who don't live in your home.
House parties (or any event involving welcoming your neighbors into your home) aren't safe by any means, Dr. Kesh explains. But you can limit the COVID-19 risks associated with trick-or-treating outside your home by making sure your trick-or-treat group stays small. "I wouldn't have a big pack of 10 kids from school going out together; I would limit it to 3 or 4 kids at most, and choose those who you know have also been practicing social distancing," Dr. Kesh explains, adding that some families may choose to trick-or-treat alone simply because they have at-risk family members at home.
Moderate Risk
The CDC says moderate risk trick-or-treating activities include 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). And the centers warn, “If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.”
CDC officials say risk can be lowered in a multitude of ways, mainly by keeping activities to your own home or backyard, or in a controlled walk around the neighborhood. Other activities include carving pumpkins, decorating your home inside and on the front porch as well as in the backyard, virtual Halloween costume contests, or movie nights at home.
The lowest risk comparative to traditional trick-or-treating may be doing a "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."
If you do engage in trick-or-treating, here are other ways to keep the session safe:
Establish ground rules. "Your child shouldn't be digging around a candy bowl, touching multiple pieces. Ask them to choose one and stick with it," Dr. Kesh advises. "And while it's hard to ask kids not to run around the street, you should ask them to stay as far away from people outside of your household, to continue to do social distancing even outside."
Don't share props, toys or bowls. Keep the swords, wands and tiaras from being passed around if you can. Ask each of your children to hold onto their own candy bags.
Bring hand sanitizer, and practice not touching your face. "It's always good to take a break, do a check in and give kids some hand sanitizer to clean their hands between multiple homes," Dr. Kesh adds. This is also an opportunity to give kids a break from wearing a mask if they need it, in a safe spot away from others where they can remove their mask with clean hands.
And of course, wear a mask. Since Halloween already involves plenty of masks, it should be easy to incorporate a face covering into your child's costume, Dr. Kesh says. Nearly all parents should also be wearing a face mask, too, but if a costume involves a mask that doesn't sufficiently cover the face, consider skipping it altogether in favor of a regular cloth mask. "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," the CDC advises. "Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask."
(Zee Krstic. “Is It Safe to Trick-or-Treat During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Experts Share Halloween Health Safety Tips.” Good Housekeeping. October 06, 2020.)
To conclude, each person must weigh the risks of participating in Trick-Or-Treat 2020. The event is scheduled, and it remains to see how many will commit. My deepest fear is that some who consider the pandemic to be a hoax or a conspiracy to rob them of their individual rights will ignore all necessary precautions and subject people to the risks of the virus. Many alternatives for celebrating Halloween exist. This trick-or-treat observance has nothing to do with a "free America" -- it is all about a "safe America."
God help us all to enjoy a safe holiday. This year it depends upon the full and safe cooperation of all. That's asking so much.
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