Dr. Fauci Has Good News For Trick-Or-Treaters
With COVID vaccinations continuing their rollout throughout the United States a year and a half after the pandemic descended upon the country, holiday events may be returning to something resembling normalcy. At least, according to President Biden's chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci. Talking to CNN about the prospects of trick-or-treating, he said, "I think that, particularly if you're vaccinated, you can get out there and enjoy it."
This is a slightly more optimistic version of the prediction Dr. Rochelle Walensky made to CBS in September. In her answer, Walensky explained that throwing children into crowded Halloween parties might still be a bad idea, but we should be able to let them trick-or-treat outdoors. The uncertainty is due to the fact that children under the age of 12 are not yet eligible for the vaccine, making them viable agents for the virus' transmission. Still, as society has made definite progress, trick-or-treating can happen, provided that people remain sensitive to the fact that COVID-19 has not actually gone away.
Ways to trick-or-treat sensibly
Of course, this year, we have the dubious benefit of having had to endure a year and a half of the pandemic already. In other words, we already have had to navigate trick-or-treating. During the run-up to last year's Halloween, USA Today reported on the various creative ways people arranged for trick-or-treating to continue despite the need for masks and social distancing. One person built a catapult, another planted lollipops in their garden, and many more devised candy chutes to drop their candy to awaiting children.
This year, CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen offered more ways we can expand our safely conducted Halloween. For example, houses can set up their candy distribution outside instead of inviting children in. But a more important thing to consider is the living situation of the trick-or-treater. If they live in a single-family house, they could probably make the rounds throughout the neighborhood without risk. However, those who live in apartment blocks might want to arrange a single apartment-wide festivity as the risk of catching COVID-19 is higher in confined spaces.
Healthy Children offers its own takes on these well-worn pieces of advice. For example, instead of going to a haunted house, go to an outdoor maze. Another point the outlet makes is that there is plenty of fun to be had at home. Watch a movie, carve pumpkins, or have a decedent Halloween-themed feast. So, have fun, but remember that sensible precautionary measures remain necessary.