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Can You Celebrate Halloween Safely this Year?

How to safely celebrate Halloween is a question frightening Halloween-lovers all over the globe. But, with some precautions, Halloween can still be a frightfully fun day for the entire family. Here’s how:

Should I take my family trick-or-treating this year? 
According to many medical health professionals, the answer depends on where you live.

“In an area where there’s still ongoing community spread [and circumstances] haven’t gotten to the point where things are opening up again, I don’t think trick-or-treating is a great idea,” says Dr. Sandra Kesh, an infectious disease specialist at New York’s Westmed Medical Group. “In areas where the community prevalence is lower, I think it’s OK to plan to trick-or-treat, but it’s going to be a different experience than it was last year.”

What safety precautions do I need to take when trick-or-treating?

  • Stick with family if possible.

  • Keep groups small.

  • Mask up.

  • Keep face-to-face interactions to a minimum.

  • Sanitize often.

How can I safely invite trick-or-treaters to my home?
“If you are going to hand out candy in person,” says Molly Hyde, an infection control practitioner, “make sure you are wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth when giving out candy.”

To avoid face-to-face interaction with trick-or-treaters, set up a bowl of candy outside and let your visitors help themselves. You can also space individual treats on your front porch with a sign instructing kids to take one.

At the end of the night, it’s best to disinfect doorknobs and other surfaces that might have been touched by trick-or-treaters.

Can I throw a Halloween party this year?

  • With a bit of creativity, you can still celebrate Halloween with friends. Follow these steps:

  • Choose an outdoor venue and invite your friends to your Quarant-een bash.

  • Have everyone bring along their Halloween costumes, comfortable lawn chairs, and individual party bags in their trunks.

  • At the party, have everyone park so the trunk of their car is in full view. Set up the chairs at safe distances and let everyone show off their costumes.

  • Pop open the trunks for “trunk-or-treating,” corona-style!

Click here to view Tuscarawas County’s trick-or-treat schedule for 2020.

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