IU COVID-19 experts said they believe Halloween can safely be celebrated this year if some precautions are followed.
Since kids under 12 are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Halloween might look a little different this year.
The Food and Drug Administration panel of independent advisors recommended Tuesday that the agency approve the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Children of that age group can be expected to get the vaccine as of next week if the FDA agrees but won’t be able to receive it in time for Halloween.
Because trick-or-treating is usually done outdoors, Dr. Cole Beeler, medical director of infection prevention at IU Health University Hospital, said the risk of transmitting COVID-19 is very low.
“In addition to that, children — specifically younger than 12 — are not as great at transmitting the viruses, so they're less competent transmitters of COVID-19,” Beeler said. “So all of that stuff taken together I think makes Halloween very safe this year.”
For those attending a Halloween party indoors, Beeler said he suggests maintaining a six-foot radius between themselves and others, wearing a mask and practicing regular hand washing.
“Even though our numbers are improving in Indiana, the delta variant is still very much around, and we are seeing new infections,” Beeler said. “So trying to adhere as much as possible to those pillars of prevention is going to be beneficial on indoor exposures.”
Shandy Dearth, who specializes in infectious disease surveillance, emergency preparedness planning and response and public health informatics, said she recommends those personally handing out candy to wear a mask and consider pre-packaging the candy.
“COVID-19 is really about breathing in the air from other people,” Dearth said. “You're not going to know the vaccination status of the person you're taking candy from or the people you're giving candy to.”
Dearth said it is not necessary for children and their parents who are trick-or-treating outdoors to wear a mask because COVID-19 is not typically contracted outside.
For adults and teenagers who plan on celebrating the holiday, Dearth said she advises getting the vaccine if they have not already, and people should wear a mask indoors regardless of their vaccination status.
Dearth said those who plan on attending a haunted house this year should be extra careful since they are usually in a compact area where people are screaming in the faces of others.
“If you're not vaccinated, I would not recommend doing activities like that,” Dearth said.
Dearth offered a final recommendation for those wanting to celebrate Halloween this year but might be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
“If anyone's showing any kind of symptoms of any kind of respiratory illness, we do ask that they go ahead and stay home just in case it's COVID and go ahead and get tested,” Dearth said.“If you have any doubt about being healthy, go ahead and stay home and get a test done before you go out.”
