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TOP STORY OF THE DAY Brought to you FREE by WICU: Common sense for Halloween
Celebrating Halloween is considered risky behavior by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Still, some local officials believe it should be up to the common sense of families if they want to participate or not.
During a recent meeting of the Brazil City Council, the topic turned to what most parents wonder: What about trick-or-treating with October arriving?
The arrival of fall brings the anticipated holiday season, starting with Halloween and then the traditional biggies of the year, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Health officials believe that families should prepare to make changes this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Halloween is the first to arrive, and health officials believe all ages need to avoid high-risk activities. The fear of the COVID-19 pandemic stopping the spooky fun has been discussed for a few weeks as Halloween décor started to hit stores.
After all, the CDC issued a recent advisory that participation in Halloween activities are risky for communities, and people should not give out candy to children.
The City Council of Brazil considered the CDC’s COVID-19 information, Gov. Eric Holcomb’s implementation of the Back On Track Roadmap Stage 5 process for reopening the state through Oct. 17, and local COVID-19 data from the Clay County Health Department during their discussion.
“We ask that the parents use their best judgment for their children,” was cited in a press release Sept. 24 about the holiday decision to set this year’s official “Trick-or-Treat” nights on October 30- 31, 6-9 p.m. “All this is subject to the Governor’s guidelines. He should make a decision next week.”
According to the CDC, many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses of any type like traditional door-to-door candy collection, trunk-or-treats, or attending crowded festivals, parties, hayrides, parades, or haunted houses.
The CDC provides alternative ways to participate in Halloween, including:
Carving or decorating pumpkins, or the decorating the house, apartment, or living space where you live,
Having a virtual Halloween costume contest or movie night,
Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of holiday-themed things to look for while they socially distance and walk around the neighborhood,
Or have the scavenger hunt-style, trick-or-treat search party at home with family members.
If candy is handed out, adults are encouraged to use proper hygiene while preparing the goodie bags. Goodie bags should be placed outside the home to allow costumed children to grab one and go while continuing to social distance, which will limit the access of unfamiliar people into your household.
NOTE: Health officials confirm that anyone who may have COVID-19, or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within 14-days before Halloween should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities or give out candy to trick-or-treaters.