Halloween During Covid-19

Today, we live in a strange world. We are now expected to wear masks indoors and keep a distance of 2 meters between ourselves. It is a strange world. A lot of things have changed since the pandemic came into our lives. This includes Halloween. Halloween is mostly celebrated in Canada and the United States. People put out scary decorations of ghouls, goblins, and ghosts. Jack-o-lanterns are decorated with odd faces and children dress up and go trick-or-treating with their parents or friends. However, with this pandemic, it will be hard to social distance and to make sure no one gets infected with COVID-19. Here are a few suggestions on how to do Halloween in a safe manner.

1. If you are someone that hands out candy, make sure you use tongs or a spatula to give out the candy. This will ensure the social distancing and it will make parents less worried about their children trick-or-treating.

2. Wear a mask and gloves. It is Halloween no one will judge you for wearing a mask and gloves. Besides, you could have a really cool costume idea that involves these two things. When you are handing out candy definitely wear a mask. Children are often smaller than you and if you are breathing on them while handing out candy, you could easily infect someone even if you show no symptoms. So wear gloves!

3. Halloween in Canada can be quiet different because it can snow on these days and children tend to wear coats under their costumes, now if your child wants to wear a Halloween mask try and encourage them to wear a fun pandemic mask instead. For example, a mask with vampire teeth on it could be a fun solution. It can be challenging for children to wear a pandemic mask during winter, but it will keep their mouths warm.

4. If you are in the age range where parties are a thing, do not do it, this is how most people are infected with Covid-19. You can create a Zoom meeting where you and your friends can dress up and have a good time. You can still do some drinking games if that's what you are all into as well.

5. If you decide that you are too cool for rules and actually end up going to a Halloween house party, then please do not put your drink down and keep an eye on it at all times. Trust no one! I'm kidding, but just be aware of what is going on around you.

6. Once the children get home from trick-or-treating make them dump all their candy out and inspect them, so nothing suspicious is in their candy bags. This includes candy that was homemade...I know that some people do make their own candy that is safe, but you can never be too careful.

7. If you are a parent, but feel that it is unnecessary to go Trick-or-treating, you can make a treasure hunt, put candy in various places in your home and then get your children to search for them and collect as many candies as they can.

8. You can also make it even more fun, get your children to take turns with a blindfold on, and get them to find candy in your home by having another child yell directions at them to find the candy. Or you can help them out too.

9. If you are handing out candy make sure it is nut-free. A lot of children have nut allergies, so make sure it has the peanut-free sign.

10. If you still want to give out candy, but are afraid of COVID-19, you can always leave out a bucket with candy and leave a sign with please take one. However, we all know children carry germs of all sorts and that can potentially be more dangerous.

11. The safest way to hand out candy would be to stand outside and have a table ready, so it stands between you and the public and have your candy on the table and instead of having children walk up to your house have them walk up to the table and then hand out the candy using tongs or a spatula. You can also make some coffee and Bailey's for the parents that going with their children.

12. In order to maintain social distancing use chalk and draw little pumpkins five or two feet apart and write "Please stand here", then that way you maintain the regulations and people are less likely to be affected by COVID.

We can all follow these examples and rules in order to maintain a safe and happy Halloween.