The COVID-19 pandemic has ruined a lot of things, including its fair share of holidays. First, it was Easter, which fell on a day when the entire country was on a fresh lockdown. Since then, every holiday that’s passed hasn’t been the same as its been in previous years. And now? It’s ruining Halloween.
The CDC has officially released its guidelines for the usually fun holiday filled with spook. Due to COVID-19, this year, they’ve deemed it to be a “high risk” activity. That means you’re at a greater risk of contracting the virus if you participate in traditional trick-or-treating. Crowds gathering and grabbing packages of candy from others? It’s certainly not a very socially distanced activity.
Many families can’t really argue with that. Which would you rather do: Skip a Halloween or risk themselves and their kids getting a potentially deadly virus? When you put it like that, it seems like a no brainer.
That’s how precisely 46% of American families, feel, according to a recent survey by ApartmentGuide. In the study, this number of families stated that they will not be participating in trick-or-treating this year.
On the other hand, the study found that 34% of families plan to go trick-or-treating as they would any other Halloween, even with the risk factor. The study also found that 16% of families will be adapting Halloween celebrations by staying at home and making them COVID-19 friendly (virtual costume party, anyone?).
The CDC has provided a list of low-risk activities that you could do instead of go trick-or-treating and risk your and other’s health:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
- Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
These don’t sound half bad! There’s always next year for trick-or-treating, right?
Are you part of the 46% of families who plan to forgo trick-or-treating this year—or plan to go (in a safe way) despite restrictions? How else will you be celebrating Halloween this year?