Trick-or-Treating During COVID: How to Play It Safe This Halloween

Halloween won’t be the same for millions of children this year, as parents seek to find ways to protect their families from exposure to COVID-19. With COVID cases reaching record-breaking numbers in states across the US, parents, schools, homeowner’s associations and community youth groups are trying to make safe choices about trick-or-treating, parties and other traditional Halloween activities.

Toward this end, the CDC has joined with health officials nationwide to provide a list of high-risk activities that families should avoid during the pandemic, as well as a list of low-risk Halloween activities that families can enjoy instead.

Is it safe to trick-or-treat? The CDC’s list of high- and low-risk Halloween activities

For millions of kids, the No. 1 question this Halloween concerns trick-or-treating; but parents are more concerned about keeping their kids safe from the virus. With COVID-19 raging across the entire country, is it safe to trick-or-treat? In a word, no — but here’s a look at the official recommendations from the CDC this Halloween season.

High risk

• Trick-or-Treating: Collecting treats from other households poses a high risk, due to the amount of close personal contact, as well as the risks of handling and sharing treats from parents to children.
• Group trick-or-treating in parking lots: The same risk factors apply, even when treats are distributed from trunks of cars.
• Traveling to fall festivals: This is especially risky in areas with community spread of COVID-19.
• Going on tractor rides or hayrides: This is risky because it involves close contact with people outside your immediate household.
• Visiting haunted houses: Lack of social distancing, poor ventilation and children screaming can all contribute to viral spread.
• Going to Halloween parties and other venues: Social distancing at these venues is difficult, especially in crowds or with excited children.

Moderate risk

• One-way trick-or-treating (leaving individually wrapped treat bags outside on a table at the edge of the yard or driveway): This can pose risks with distancing and surface touching, especially with kids trick-or-treating in groups. If you choose this method, wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.
• Visiting orchards or pumpkin patches: Social distancing can be difficult at these venues, especially if there are crowds. If you choose to go, make sure to wear masks and stay at least six feet apart from other people. Also, be sure that event staff (as well as yourself, your family and other attendees) are using hand sanitizer before picking apples or handling pumpkins.
• Neighborhood movie nights, parades or outdoor parties: Again, it’s difficult to maintain social distancing during these types of events, especially with kids. Also, vocal activities such as screaming or singing can spread the virus more quickly.

Low-risk Halloween activities your family will enjoy

The safest thing you can do for your family this Halloween is plan a household-only celebration in the safety of your own home. Here’s a list of ideas that you can build on:

• Indoor scavenger hunt: Hide candy, scary Halloween trinkets and toys throughout the house. Make the hiding places really creative so you can keep the kids going for hours.
• Pumpkin carving: You can turn this into a family event by providing a pumpkin for each family member (let the adults do the carving for the younger ones).

Making treats: Kids can join in making Halloween-themed pizzas, burgers, cakes or pies.

• Scary movie night: Prepare popcorn, caramel apples and other treats, then get the blankets, turn out the lights and tuck in for the night with classic Halloween movies your family will love.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to provide costumes for everyone; and for added fun, keep them on throughout the day and evening.

Important tips for trick-or-treating safety

After checking for community spread in your area, if you still decide to let the kids trick-or-treat, here’s some advice from the experts:

• Both kids and adults need to wear a protective cloth mask while trick-or-treating or partying. However, wearing these under a costume mask can inhibit normal breathing, so it’s advisable to forgo the costume mask this year.
• A Halloween costume mask should not be used as a substitute for a protective cloth mask. The only exception is if the costume mask is constructed of two or more breathable fabric layers that completely cover the mouth and nose, leaving no gaps around the face.
• Trick-or-treaters should use hand sanitizer after getting treats from each house.
• Kids shouldn’t eat their candy until they get home and wash their hands.
• Parents giving out candy should also wear protective masks.
• A parent should accompany trick-or-treaters to make sure they social distance and keep their masks on.
• For homes with elderly or vulnerable members (such as people with diabetes, immune system problems or other chronic conditions), experts recommend celebrating Halloween at home this year, rather than endangering at-risk household members.

Legal liabilities: Your responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

The pandemic has given rise to another social concern: COVID-related legal liability. Each day brings more incidences of coronavirus negligence, as people are exposed to the virus through carelessness on the part of others. Activities such as wearing a mask, washing hands, using hand sanitizer and social distancing (at a minimum of six feet) are all proven to help protect against catching the virus; but thousands of people refuse to practice these safety protocols.

If you feel that you have caught COVID-19 due to irresponsible behavior on the part of another person, another group of people or a workplace environment, you can get the help you need by contacting Bennett Injury Law. As a personal injury law firm with a focus on plaintiff rights, Bennett Injury Law can give you the expert representation you need in a COVID negligence lawsuit, whether it’s resolved through a trial or through arbitration. At Bennett Injury Law, our skilled legal team is experienced in handling a wide range of personal injury lawsuits, including those involving workplace injuries and motor vehicle crashes. Whether you’re looking for justice in a coronavirus negligence case or another type of case involving injury, sickness or wrongful death, Bennett Injury Law knows how to leverage the full force of the law to get a satisfactory resolution for you and your family.

Even in this season of COVID-19, Halloween won’t be canceled — it’s just going to be a bit different this year. The best thing you can do is check the spread statistics for your area, consider the risk factors for your household members, stick to the advised protocols (mask-wearing, hand washing/sanitizing and social distancing), follow the CDC’s recommendations and use fact-based (and science-based) common sense and judgment to ensure that you and your family have a safe Halloween.

Charles Bennett

Charles Bennett is a Plaintiff’s trial attorney and trial consultant based in Dallas, Texas. His law firm, Bennett Injury Law, is a personal injury plaintiff’s law firm that specializes in 18-Wheeler and Commercial crashes, Wrongful Death, Traumatic Brain Damage, Motor Vehicle Crashes, and Workplace Injuries. Cases Charles has consulted on in 2019 have won over $35M in verdicts.