Scavenger hunts, socially distanced pumpkin carving, outdoor games and parades, and virtual costume contests are among the options parents can consider for their kids’ Halloween activities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Medical experts quoted in an October 23, 2020 CNBC article said that Halloween choices would depend on personal risk tolerance, the age of the kids, and the size of the COVID-19 outbreak in a particular community.
One of the experts quoted was William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The key is avoiding the three C’s,” said Hanage. “That’s crowds, closed spaces and close contact.”
Hanage said that he personally would feel comfortable going trick-or-treating with his family outdoors, as long as the community had low disease prevalence. He also recommended that kids wash their hands before eating candy or that parents let the candy sit for a day.
The CNBC article cited recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for families who opt for trick-or-treating, including carrying hand sanitizer and wearing cloth masks—not just Halloween masks. The agency also recommends setting up stations with individually bagged treats.
Read the CNBC article: We asked 20 medical experts with kids about their pandemic Halloween plans. Here’s what they said