Health tricks and treats for Halloween

COVID-19 has its hands in everything this year, including the Halloween candy bowl, but there are ways to enjoy the holiday while still protecting your health and the health of others.

The state Department of Health is recommending tips for a safe and fun Halloween:

Trick or treating

Stick with members of your household and keep at least six feet of distance from others.

Wear a cloth mask, and remember: a plastic costume mask is not a suitable substitute.

Wash your hands before and after trick-or-treating.

Bring plenty of hand sanitizer.

Giving out treats

Limit candy to individually wrapped treat bags. This reduces the number of people who would typically touch items in a communal bowl.

To avoid crowds, place treats on a table in your driveway or yard. To see trick-or-treaters, sit in a chair in your driveway, garage, yard, or porch and maintain at least six feet of distance from the treat table.

Place a few mini pumpkins or other decorations six feet apart to signal a line and keep trick-or-treaters distanced while waiting for treats.

Other ways to celebrate Halloween 

Have a scavenger hunt at home. Dress up and hide candy or other treats throughout the house or yard.

Have a Halloween movie marathon with household members.

Host an online costume or pumpkin carving contest.

And no matter what you do for Halloween, standard health precautions are to: 

Wear a cloth face covering anytime you are with people not from your household, whether indoors or outside.

Avoid confined spaces. Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities, but if you’re indoors, make sure to have proper ventilation, and even open doors and windows to the extent possible.

Avoid close contact with people outside of your household. Stay at least six feet away from people who are not part of your household.

Wash or sanitize your hands (and the hands of little ones) often.

Stay home if you are sick or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. And if you have symptoms or you’ve been a close contact of someone with COVID-19, get a COVID-19 test.

Another idea that has gone viral online is to attach a cardboard tube or other such chute to the railing of your porch, if you have stairs, and to send the candy down the chute where trick or treaters can catch it in their bag or bucket. 

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/09/16/trick-or-treat-candy-chute-coronavirus/