Masks and hygiene can make Halloween safe and enjoyable for trick-or-treaters

HUNTLEY – Health officials and the village of Huntley are hoping Halloween can be saved from the coronavirus and kept off the list that includes movie theaters, Happy Hour, dinner at a bustling restaurant, professional sports events, conventions, hotel stays, big weddings, flights, train rides, haircuts, handshakes, hugs, bussing babies, and kissing cousins—innocent behavior that could have serious consequences.

Doctors, parents, grandparents, health officials, and village officials are hoping kids can find some fun again this Halloween by trick-or-treating responsibly while parents monitor their safety.

And while health officials agree the best practice could be small Halloween parties with a few families keeping a safe distance, they also point out there are ways for children to go door-to-door, gathering candy, by remembering a few tips and practices.

In response to a number of calls to village hall, and rumors that trick-or-treating would be canceled, the village issued a statement: “We are not canceling Halloween trick-or-treating.”

Stating that trick-or-treating “can be accomplished safely,” the village’s statement laid out certain stipulations:

• “Wear a mask (not the Halloween kind) if interacting closely with others.
• “Do not leave bowls of candy on your port that multiple people will touch.
• “If you are uncomfortable with handing out candy, please do not turn on your porch light.
• “If you are uncomfortable with your children trick-or-treating, it is your choice as a parent or guardian to not send them.
• “We encourage everyone to practice social distancing, to the extent possible, as it is possible when you are walking around outdoors.”

Many of those same points were echoed by people who care for kids.

“I think it’s safe, as long as you wear masks,” said Carol Hollis while helping her granddaughter on the playground equipment at Deicke Park. “And if people want to go home and wipe off the bags of candy with something, they can.”

Sharel Johnson, watching over her son as he played in the sand and water, said, “I’m going to take him trick-or-treating, but we’ll maybe do just a few houses on our block. I think if everyone has masks and social distances while giving candy, that it can be safe. My worry is whether the candy has been in a contaminated household, or the person handling the candy. Then the kid touches it, or the parent, and (the virus) can be transmitted.” She said she might substitute the candy her son collects with candy that she purchases herself, just to be sure.

Dr. Kristi Redlich, a pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, agrees that trick-or-treating can be enjoyed by young people with certain stipulations.

“If trick-or-treating is permitted in your city, it can be safe for kids if everyone stays outside, wears a mask and practices good hand hygiene,” she said.

And by recommending a mask, Dr. Redlich explained, she means a cloth or surgical mask that fits according to the guidelines of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, securely covering the nose and mouth without any gaps on the side or under the chin. Parents will want to rethink having their child put on a Halloween mask and then be covered by a clear plastic face shield, like those worn by some coaches at NFL games. The shields are not considered adequate to protect against droplets that carry COVID-19, she said, and are better left to hospital workers who use them in conjunction with other coverings.

“One question that a lot of parents are asking is whether their child’s costume mask will offer enough protection during trick-or-treating, and the answer is no,” Dr. Redlich said. “Everyone should wear an appropriate face mask, and it’s even a great idea to incorporate it into the costume to add some fun to these unusual circumstances.”

Parents may be considering adding gloves to a costume to help protect their kids, and that could work, depending on the age of the child.

“For young children, gloves are just as likely as bare hands to transmit the virus to their nose, mouth or eyes,” Dr. Redlich said. “Older kids may be able to wear gloves if they understand the importance of cleaning their hands before they touch their faces or food.” Better hand protection is available in bottles of sanitizer, and Dr. Redlich recommends every kid gets a squirt of hand sanitizer after every house visited.

With mouths and noses appropriately masked, and a bottle of hand sanitizer standing by, should parents still be concerned about their children approaching a house where people appear without masks or other personal protective equipment?

“The best-cast scenario would be that children would stay a safe distance from people who do not live in their household,” the doctor said. “This protects the children, but it also protects adults who are at higher risk of complications from COVID-19.”

And is there added concern about allowing your child to reach into that bowl of candy on the porch? Village officials may not think so, pointing out that “treats are already individually wrapped and sealed,” but Dr. Redlich reminds parents, “We do know that the COVID-19 virus can live on things like candy wrappers, so there is a rise of catching the virus from anything that someone else has touched. If it’s a bowl that every child in the neighborhood is reaching into, the risk of exposure increases.”

The McHenry County Health Department (MCDH) recommends that parents familiarize themselves with the guidance provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Most important, the county department reminds people who aren’t feeling well to lower the risk of infecting others.

“Whether people decide to participate in door-to-door trick-or-treating or find an alternative way to celebrate Halloween, it’s important that those who feel ill, are awaiting COVID-19 test results or believe they were exposed to someone with the virus isolate themselves until they know for certain that they do not have COVID,” said Lindsey Salvatelli, MCDH community information coordinator. “Everyone in McHenry County has worked hard to keep the spread of COVID-19 low. The last thing we would want is for an increase in confirmed cases right before the holidays.”

Those state guidelines echo the wisdom of Dr. Redlich on such things as wearing masks, social distancing of at least 6 feet, proper hand washing and use of hand sanitizer, while noting, “For this year, it would be safest to plan special events at home, using social media and other meeting platforms to connect with family and friends.”

For people who want to make treats available for kids going door-to-door, the state recommends placing individually wrapped candy or treats on a table on the front walkway, sidewalk or any outdoor space that allows at least six feet of social distance from the door. The candy should be spaced apart so that no two pieces are touching, and anyone distributing or arranging the candy should wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before touching the treats.

The state also recommends that only members of the same household should go trick-or-treating together and still maintain the 6-feet social distancing from other trick-or-treaters. As always, a parent/guardian is encouraged to check all the candy to make sure it is wrapped properly, and discard any that isn’t.

The state and Dr. Redlich recommend parents consider alternate activities to trick-or-treating, such as pumpkin patches, orchard visits and hayrides, all with proper social distancing.

“Neighborhoods can organize a socially distant parade so kids can wave to friends and neighbors from a safe distance and show off their costumes,” Dr. Redlich said. “Parents could buy candy or treats for their won children so nothing is passed between families.”

The state reminds adults that haunted houses, a Halloween favorite of many, are not allowed under state regulations for Restore Illinois Phase 4, So adults may want to look for open-air, one-way haunted forests or haunted walks where proper social distancing is more likely to take place

“If screaming is anticipated,” the state warns, “even greater social distancing is advised to lower the risk of spreading respiratory viruses.”

Traditional rowdy Halloween parties for adults, such as at bars and clubs, are “strongly discouraged” by the state: “Indoor parties or gatherings with attendees who are not adhering to social distancing …, wearing masks, hand washing, or otherwise participating in prevention behaviors will result in a higher risk from transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 illness.”

Dr. Redlich said the holiday is a good time for families to help prevent other, potentially dangerous viruses by getting a flu shot.

“It protects adults and kids from influenza, and we definitely want to avoid getting influenza and this coronavirus at the same time,” she said. “Another reason we want to reduce the spread of the flu this year is to conserve medical resources. Every prevented case of influenza gives us more resources to use as we care for people who have COVID-19.”