If there’s one day when wearing a mask is encouraged, it’s Halloween.
After many events were canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, families are encouraged to get out and have fun this year.
“Absolutely, kids can go out and enjoy themselves,” said Dr. Jayne Morgan, executive director of the COVID task force at Piedmont Hospital. “The key is to stay outdoors.”
The government’s top infectious diseases expert agrees and says families can feel safe trick-or-treating outdoors this year for Halloween, especially for those who are vaccinated.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that it’s an important time of year for children, so “go out there” and “enjoy it.”
“Halloween is one occasion pre-COVID where we wore masks anyway,” Morgan added. “If the costume comes with a mask, that’s OK to wear.” You won’t need to wear an additional face mask. Otherwise, you can always decorate a regular face mask to incorporate into your costume.
“Have fun with your masks,” Morgan said with enthusiasm.
Dr. Andi Shane, division chief of pediatric infectious disease at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Emory University, also agrees.
“Being outside is obviously very important,” she said. “We know that infections are less likely to be transmitted when someone is outside.
“Everything that we do has a risk and a benefit,” she added, “and that has to be weighed on an individual level. There may be certain children for whom trick-or-treating may not be a safe option. Parents know their children best and should consider that as they’re making that decision.”
Despite this encouraging news, there are still precautions to take for everyone’s safety.
“We’re not sharing candy this year,” Morgan said. If you’re trick-or-treating with a group, it’s important parents ensure kids don’t taste candy, decide they don’t like it and then pass it to a friend. “Be aware of kids sharing saliva,” she added.
Any activity that involves sharing saliva should be avoided, Morgan said, and that includes bobbing for apples.
Shane added: “A lot of children like to eat candy as they walk along the road and that’s not advised for a number of reasons, but mostly because you want to make sure that your child’s hands are clean before they put anything in their mouths.”
There is no need to wipe down the candy, the doctors agreed, but washing kids’ hands before letting them eat it is very important. “Most viruses don’t survive for long term on surfaces,” Shane explained, “So really what people need to do is make sure that hands are clean, because you’re hopefully not going to eat the wrapper.”
It isn’t just COVID-19 families have to worry about right now, however.
“The other thing is we also are thinking about influenza right now,” Shane said, “and we recommend that everybody be vaccinated, ideally before Halloween. It takes about two weeks after you get the flu vaccine to actually develop antibodies of protection, and so that’s why we encourage people to get vaccinated soon. We had a very mild flu season last year, but that’s because we also didn’t have Halloween last year. Now that people are out, this is potentially an opportunity for transmission”
More safety tips
Children’s Healthcare recommended taking the following precautions for Halloween and other fall activities:
- Getting vaccinated if you’re eligible
- Wear a mask if indoors or if you’re in an area with high numbers of COVID-19 cases and are in a crowded outdoor space
- Follow the 3 Ws: wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance
- Do not attend events if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19
Flu Season
Say BOO to the flu and get your annual influenza vaccine before Halloween. Influenza is a virus and it is unpredictable. To be protected from the flu, you need to be vaccinated every year prior to the annual flu season.
- Everyone 6 months and older needs a seasonal flu vaccine every year.
- It takes about two weeks after vaccination for you to be protected against the flu.
- Even if a flu vaccine does not completely protect you and your child from having the flu, vaccinated people have fewer days of symptoms, less severe symptoms and are less likely to need medical care.
- A flu vaccine decreases hospitalizations, as well as serious illness and death.
Food allergies
Parents of children with food allergies know to be diligent about reading ingredient labels and helping their child monitor what foods are safe to eat. Other important things to remember this season are:
- If you’re purchasing candy or making homemade goodies, make sure to avoid the most common allergens such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy or wheat so everyone can enjoy.
- Provide your child with safe food or non-food treats in exchange for allergen treats they might receive.
- Let adults know about your child’s allergy so they can be mindful about what treats they provide at school, among friends or during other festivities.
- Through the Teal Pumpkin Project, teal pumpkins have become a symbol that children with food allergies can receive food-safe or nonfood treats at homes while celebrating Halloween. Also, watch for children carrying teal jack-o-lanterns, as it’s a sign that they likely have a food allergy.
Safety tips for trick-or-treating fun for children with autism spectrum disorder
- Avoid scratchy costumes, face painting and masks, especially if your child has texture sensitivities. Remember to have your child try on the costume in advance and practice wearing it at home.
- Practice at home by having your child knock on the door to say “trick-or-treat” and giving them healthy goodies. If need be, limit the amount of time spent or number of places your child will visit.
- If your child has trouble communicating, have them hand out cards to the people who answer the doors at the houses they visit. Bring along useful supplies such as a flashlight for safety, earplugs or earphones to block out loud noises, and a favorite item for comfort.
- Practice greeting trick-or-treaters at your door and giving out or receiving candy. Or, if you’re worried visitors might come too late, leave a basket of treats on the porch with instructions not to ring your doorbell.
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