‘Tis the season for trick-or-treating, but before you get dressed up and dump your candy into that big bowl, you might want to re-think your Halloween plans this year.”This year, Halloween is closer to what we would hope it to be, but we’re not there yet,” said Dr. Lewis First, with the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital.First said the continued spread of COVID-19, and the delta variant, could make trick-or-treating scary if proper protocols aren’t followed.”We still have a pandemic. We still have people who are not vaccinated, and we certainly have children under the age of 12 who have not received the vaccine yet and therefore run a risk of either developing COVID-19 or spreading the virus,” First said.That doesn’t mean Halloween can’t be fun.We just have to play it safe.First said the most important tip is that kids, parents and anyone giving out candy should be wearing a traditional cloth face mask that covers their nose and mouth, not a costume mask.”(People should wear masks) to prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly if people are going to gather at doors and porches,” First said.He also said to think outside the box, literally! Experts said to try and hand out candy outdoors rather than having people ring the doorbell.First recommends individually bagging candy for kids to grab, or get creative and make a candy chute.He said to avoid dumping candy into a big bowl.Before digging into your candy stash, First said washing hands is essential.He recommends trick-or-treaters and people handing out candy have hand sanitizer handy.For people hosting or attending Halloween parties this weekend, health experts said to keep gatherings small and ideally outdoors.If gatherings are indoors, opening windows to help with airflow is recommended.”Try to avoid crowded parties or other such gatherings. Both adults and children are at higher risk of getting and spreading the virus in these riskier situations,” said Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont’s health commissioner. Last year, Halloween parties contributed to a spike in COVID-19 cases nationwide.Health experts are hoping to avoid that this year.”If you can do this, wear your mask, stay outside, keep some physical distancing and not stay in clusters or crowds, Halloween is not going to be scary for anybody,” First said.Have a safe and happy Halloween!
‘Tis the season for trick-or-treating, but before you get dressed up and dump your candy into that big bowl, you might want to re-think your Halloween plans this year.
“This year, Halloween is closer to what we would hope it to be, but we’re not there yet,” said Dr. Lewis First, with the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital.
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First said the continued spread of COVID-19, and the delta variant, could make trick-or-treating scary if proper protocols aren’t followed.
“We still have a pandemic. We still have people who are not vaccinated, and we certainly have children under the age of 12 who have not received the vaccine yet and therefore run a risk of either developing COVID-19 or spreading the virus,” First said.
That doesn’t mean Halloween can’t be fun.
We just have to play it safe.
First said the most important tip is that kids, parents and anyone giving out candy should be wearing a traditional cloth face mask that covers their nose and mouth, not a costume mask.
“(People should wear masks) to prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly if people are going to gather at doors and porches,” First said.
He also said to think outside the box, literally!
Experts said to try and hand out candy outdoors rather than having people ring the doorbell.
First recommends individually bagging candy for kids to grab, or get creative and make a candy chute.
He said to avoid dumping candy into a big bowl.
Before digging into your candy stash, First said washing hands is essential.
He recommends trick-or-treaters and people handing out candy have hand sanitizer handy.
For people hosting or attending Halloween parties this weekend, health experts said to keep gatherings small and ideally outdoors.
If gatherings are indoors, opening windows to help with airflow is recommended.
“Try to avoid crowded parties or other such gatherings. Both adults and children are at higher risk of getting and spreading the virus in these riskier situations,” said Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont’s health commissioner.
Last year, Halloween parties contributed to a spike in COVID-19 cases nationwide.
Health experts are hoping to avoid that this year.
“If you can do this, wear your mask, stay outside, keep some physical distancing and not stay in clusters or crowds, Halloween is not going to be scary for anybody,” First said.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
