Kids Will Trick-Or-Treat, But Many Will Wear Masks: MD Survey

MARYLAND — The COVID-19 pandemic will make traditional door-to-door trick or treating, well, tricky, for Maryland families.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against the much-beloved tradition, calling it a "high-risk" activity during the public health crisis. In Maryland, some communities are amending their trick-or-treating hours or suggesting that residents stick to less risky Halloween activities, like socially-distant scavenger hunts and virtual costume contests.

But despite the latest guidance from federal and local health officials, a majority of parents who took Patch's survey said their kids will trick-or-treat in Maryland.

"If you can go to McDonald's ... you can trick-or-treat," one reader said.

Four hundred people responded to this informal survey question.

According to the survey, 206 Patch readers — or 51.5 percent — said they'd send their kids door-to-door for candy on Halloween.

Several of those respondents said they didn't believe trick-or-treating would pose a risk to their family or community.

"There is no there is no danger to keep my granddaughter from trick or treating," one reader said.

There were, however, 149 others (37.2 percent) who said they'd follow the CDC's guidelines and not trick-or-treat.

Another 45 people (11.3 percent) said they haven't made up their minds yet.

A majority of parents who are letting their kids trick-or-treat this year also said they'd make their kids wear a face mask. Of the 371 respondents, 206 (55.5 percent) said yes to face masks, 107 (28.8 percent) said no, and 58 (15.6 percent) said they were unsure.

According to the Patch survey, a majority of parents aren't concerned that their children will trick-or-treat during the pandemic.

Of the 409 people who responded to this survey question, 165 (40.3 percent) didn't express concerns about COVID-19.

Almost as many people, however, said they were very concerned about the risk of coronavirus transmission.

For this question, 212 (52 percent) the 408 respondents said they plan to pass out candy this year.

"(We'll have a) table outside with individual size bags of candy. We will wave from inside the house, behind a closed door," one reader said.

Another said: "Halloween is my family's favorite time, we will still be decorating, doing pumpkins, and giving out candy-safely."

About 150 people (36.8 percent) said they would not pass out candy this year — and 46 others (11.3 percent) said they weren't sure.

It seems people are split on how they will celebrate Halloween this year. Of the 405 respondents, 198 (48.9 percent) said COVID-19 will not change the way they celebrate.

"Halloween is equally risky this year as it was last. Covid is not something to be concerned about the way the media makes it seem," one reader said.

But for almost as many people (187 people, or 46.2 percent), the pandemic will upend their traditions. Some respondents said they are opting for less risky Halloween activities.

"My granddaughter will spend a few hours with two friends. They'll get dressed up, but will be at home watching horror movies," said one respondent.

Another said: "We are staying home dressing up, having a piñata and scavenger hunt with our kids for our own private Halloween party."

Note: 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.