How To Trick Or Treat Safely During COVID In Glendora

LOS ANGELES, CA — The nation’s top infectious disease specialist gave his blessing for trick-or-treating this Halloween. But after fending off the boogey man known as COVID-19 for the past 18 months, many parents find the prospect of crowds of kids with unwashed hands full of candy is a a true Halloween fright.

However, it can be done safely with proper precautions, say health officials.

"I think that, particularly if you're vaccinated, you can get out there and enjoy it," the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN's State of the Union. "This is a time that children love. It's a very important part of the year for children.”

Currently, coronavirus transmission in Los Angeles County is relatively low, further minimizing the risk.

The average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus was 1.19% as of Thursday.

To help families navigate the spookiest of holidays, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offered tips for minimizing the risk of COVID exposure while trick-or-treating this year.

The department reminds people to avoid the conditions where the coronavirus spreads most readily: closed or crowded spaces, and places where people huddle in close proximity talking, laughing, screaming, or breathing heavily. So crowded Halloween horror houses aren’t the safest place to be this year, but trick-or-treating outdoors can be done.

“Safer Halloween options are situations where it is easier to keep a distance from others, wear a face mask correctly, and avoid mixing with a lot of different people, especially if you don’t know their vaccination status and recent risks,” county health officials said in a written statement.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s safe Halloween options include:

• A scavenger hunt - give your kids a list of Halloween-themed things to look for outdoors, like different types of decorations. Keep a distance from people outside your household.
• Hold a virtual costume party online.
• Exchange candy with families you know. Drop off a Halloween treat at the doorstep to surprise the kids.
• Trick-or-treat inside your home with your family by hiding candy for your kids to find. For a fun surprise, hide yourself, too!
• Have a spooky movie night or a Halloween craft or pumpkin carving party with the family.
• Organize a neighborhood costume parade outdoors. Don’t forget to physically distance. Bring and wear a face mask in case it gets crowded.

Tips for Trick Or Treaters

• Keep your group small. Limit your group to your immediate household or to a small group that you know well. Avoid mixing with many different families. Don’t be afraid to ask about people’s vaccination status and recent risks before deciding who is safe to trick-or-treat with.
• Wear a face mask. Be creative and make your face mask part of your costume. A costume mask is NOT a substitute for a face mask that protects against COVID-19.Do not wear a costume mask over a face mask. It can make breathing more difficult. Wear a face mask if you are in a crowded outdoor place and if you must be indoors with others. Make sure that everyone in your group wears a face mask consistently and correctly if your group includes different households, especially if there are people who are not fully vaccinated. • Keep your distance from other groups of trick-or-treaters. Wait on the sidewalk at least 6 feet from other groups. Don’t gather with other groups on porches and at front doors.
• Keep hands clean. Carry hand sanitizer so that kids can clean their hands while trick-or-treating. Remind kids to not eat or touch their face with unclean hands. • Be flexible. If a house or street is crowded, come back later or go to another less crowded street.
• Avoid indoor spaces. Wear masks at all times when you are indoors with people from other households.