Task force urges against trick or treat

Federal health officials are advising that traditional trick or treat that happens on Halloween may not be safe during the pandemic. Submitted photo

Columbus’ COVID-19 Community Task Force is urging residents to avoid Halloween activities posing a high or moderate risk of spreading COVID-19, including traditional trick-or-treating, as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the state.

On Wednesday, the task force issued a statement encouraging people not to engage in traditional residential trick-or-treating “where treats are handed out and received with close-contact,” attend indoor costume parties or gatherings where public health guidelines such as wearing masks and social distancing are not followed, among other activities.

Instead, the task force recommends virtual gatherings, carving pumpkins and treat scavenger hunts with the members of the same household, according to the statement.

More information about how to safely celebrate Halloween can be found on the task force’s website: covid19communitytaskforce.org/halloween/.

The task force, which was formed in February, includes representatives from Columbus Regional Health, the Columbus mayor’s office, Bartholomew County Health Department, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, BCSC, Cummins Inc., among others.

The city will have trick-or-treating hours of 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, said Mary Ferdon, the city’s executive director of administration and community development, who is on the task force.

“We are allowing it and we will have extra law enforcement on the streets like we typically do, but we do recognize that with the increasing numbers that the county currently has … that if people have alternatives, we are encouraging those,” Ferdon said.

Health experts say some Halloween traditions such as crowding on doorsteps for candy and inching your way through haunted houses heighten the risk of spreading COVID-19 and should be avoided, according to The Associated Press.

Some communities have scheduled trick-or-treat times as usual, with suggestions for taking precautions, according to wire reports. Other communities are conferring with their local health departments before making a decision.

At one point, Columbus city officials discussed revoking this year’s Halloween hours, but ultimately opted to inform people of the potential risks of certain activities and how to celebrate Halloween safely, Ferdon said.

“We felt like some people believe that they can do it safely, and it’s not something that you have do, obviously,” Ferdon said. “…You have the ability to choose to participate or not participate in this activity, and as we see the numbers (of COVID-19 cases) rise and with the CDC guidelines, we wanted people to understand there is a risk to it, and it’s up to them to make the choice.”

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on Halloween, advising people to avoid traditional trick-or-treating, hayrides or tractor rides among people not living in the same household and also to avoid indoor costume parties.

Additionally, the CDC recommends against “trunk-or-treating” where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots, traveling to rural fall festivals or going to an indoor haunted house where people may be close together and screaming.

“Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses,” the CDC guidance states. “There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween.”

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For more information on what Halloween activities to avoid, visit covid19communitytaskforce.org/halloween-safety-avoid-these-high-risk-activities/.

For more information on what Halloween activities pose less of a risk, visit covid19communitytaskforce.org/halloween-safety-ideas-for-safe-halloween-activities/.

For a complete list of high and moderate risk activities, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween.

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