With COVID Waning What Are Your Trick Or Treat And Other Halloween Plans? VA Survey

VIRGINIA — The leaves are changing colors, the air is getting chillier, and spooky decorations are up around town. It's Halloween season and the second year Virginia grapples with COVID-19 amid holiday activities.

This year's Halloween is a bit different, as adults and children ages 12 and up have the opportunity to be vaccinated, and infection rates are down. However, children younger than 12 cannot yet be vaccinated as families await federal authorization for the 5 to 11 age group.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance also differs from a year ago. In 2020, the CDC classified trick-or-treat as a high-risk activity and offered suggestions for lower risk Halloween celebrations.

This year, Halloween activities such as trick or treat can be done with precautions, the CDC says. Recommendations include getting vaccinated if eligible, wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial to high transmission, avoid crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, stay home when sick, or get tested if you have symptoms or are a close contact. The CDC maintains that outdoor activities are safer.

Will you send your kids trick-or-treating this year? Do you plan to pass out candy or are you keeping the porch light off this year? Take Virginia Patch's anonymous survey and let us know. The survey will be open through 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28. Results will be shared on Friday, Oct. 29.

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.

If you cannot see the survey below, click here.

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