There are ways to have Halloween fun while taking precautions to keep your family and those around you safer.

Published: October 25, 2021

There are ways to have Halloween fun this year while taking precautions to keep your family and those around you safer.

In general, you can be confident allowing your kids to trick or treat in small groups, staying outdoors and avoiding crowded indoor parties, Rochelle Walensky, M.D., MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said in media interviews.

Should kids go trick-or-treating this Halloween? @CDCDirector Dr. Walensky: “If you're able to be outdoors, absolutely.” pic.twitter.com/F1Iw85vSdq

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 26, 2021

Additional ways to keep everyone safer this Halloween

• Anyone who is not fully vaccinated should wear a protective mask in indoor public places (except children under age 2).
• In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
• In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
• Get your flu shot. It won’t protect you against COVID-19, but the flu vaccine is an important part of helping your body fight off the flu and reducing your risk for infection.
• Anyone over age 12 can get a COVID-19 vaccine that will reduce the risk of serious illness and death.

“If you have children, I would encourage wearing a mask — make it part of the costume so that way it can be a fun part of it. The distancing is going to be important as well,” said Monalisa M. Tailor, M.D., internal medicine physician with Norton Community Medical Associates – Barret.

“For those passing out candy, maybe it’s a table that you set outside your house so children can pick it up rather than them digging into a container of candy,” Dr. Tailor said. “That may still be the safest way to do it this year.”

The Louisville Zoo is hosting its Boo at the Zoo this month with precautions in place to reduce risks of infection.

Tips for safer trick-or-treating

From the CDC:

• Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you
• Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
• Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
• Wash hands before handling treats.
  • Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.
  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.
• Wear a cloth or disposable mask.
  • Make the cloth mask part of the costume.
  • A traditional costume mask over a cloth mask could make breathing difficult.
  • Masks should not be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing.