Covid Ninet(hallow)een: A trick or a treat? - Shannon Furgeson

    Every year when October comes around, kids all over the world are coming up with costumes they want to wear, and getting excited about trick or treating. This year though, instead of getting ready to walk in their school's Halloween parade, they are waiting to find out if Halloween is going to be allowed this year.     Because of Covid-19, many restrictions are enforced by the state and the nation, in order to protect other people and ourselves. This idea probably goes over the heads of children ages 1 to 10, so it has to be incredibly disappointing if their parents say they can't go out because of some crazy disease.   

    Many states are deciding for themselves whether or not they are going to enforce social distancing and gathering rules they have previously enforced, or if they are going to make an exception. New York, for example, has decided that outdoor trick-or-treating is okay, but going from door to door inside (such as apartment buildings) won't be allowed. In other states, like New Jersey, Governor Murphy gave the OK for going out on October 31, but some towns went ahead and banned it for their area. This could be extremely frustrating to some kids, where they have to stay home and trick-or-treat from room to room, while their friends from the next town over are out going from house to house.  

    For those who go outside and trick-or-treat, though, will they have to wear masks? The CDC says that yes, kids should wear a mask, but "a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask," and they also advice not to wear a cloth mask under a costume mask, because it could create an issue for breathing. Of course, as we all know well at this point, staying 6 feet apart is a must. For kids trick-or-treating and adults supervising, unless they live together, staying away from others is what is most important. The CDC also recommends bringing hand sanitizer, and being contact-less with the families giving out candy. This night is certainly going to be different than anything in the past, but if we keep our spirits up and our decorations spooky, it will be a special night for all that participate.