Safe Trick-or-Treating During the Pandemic

How can we trick-or-treat safely amid a pandemic?

Obviously, some things need to change. You don't want a lot of hands digging in the candy bowl. In fact, one kid asked the governor of his state to require handing out FULL SIZE candy bars, so you're only touching one piece of candy, instead of several.

Masks need to be worn, but the CDC says Halloween masks and COVID-19 masks are not the same:

A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.

Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

The CDC has other recommendations, including participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)

(Photo:Getty Images)