Virginia Readers Split On Kids Trick-Or-Treating: Survey Results

VIRGINIA — The verdict is in: the COVID-19 pandemic will change some but not all plans for trick-or-treat. More than 500 respondents participated in Patch's informal survey on trick-or-treat and other Halloween activities.

After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out recommendations for Halloween and other fall activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to know what readers are planning for trick-or-treat on Oct. 31. The CDC classified trick-or-treat as a high-risk activity, along with trunk-or-treat, indoor haunted houses, Halloween parties and hayrides with non-immediate family members.

The Virginia Department of Health also issued interim guidance supporting the CDC's recommendations.

Readers were split on whether to participate in trick-or-treat this year. There were 46.9 percent who say their kids will not trick-or-treat, 36.3 percent who say they will, and 16.8 percent who are unsure. When asked how concerned they are about allowing trick-or-treat, 49.3 percent said "very concerned," 28.3 percent said "slightly concerned" and 22.4 percent said "not concerned at all."

For kids who do trick-or-treat, mask wearing will be part of the festivities. Our survey found 71.1 percent of readers would have their kids wear a mask for trick-or-treat and 17.8 percent who said they would not.

With families willing to trick-or-treat, there must also be households willing to hand out candy. There were 50.7 percent who plan to pass out candy and 48.1 percent who do not.

We also asked readers if they were planning alternative activities to trick-or-treat this year. Some of the responses included pumpkin picking and carving, socially-distanced party with neighbors, backyard scavenger hunt, drive-thru trunk-or-treat, virtual costume party, Halloween piñata, pumpkin patch, socially-distanced costume parade, and crafts.

Numerous respondents left additional comments about trick-or-treat and other Halloween activities. Some are planning to leave candy outside or offer individually packaged candy to limit contact.

Some are open to the idea of trick-or-treating if protocols like physical distancing and mask wearing are followed. A few suggestions for homes passing out candy include using a reacher stick, tossing bags to kids from the porch, leaving candy outside, and individually bagging treats.

"We've needed to rethink many of the things we do because of the pandemic and Halloween is no different. We can still make things fun even if they aren't how we are used to doing them," wrote one person.

Others believe trick-or-treat should be discouraged due to the risk of spreading the virus.

"We LOVE Halloween, but unfortunately, we will not be participating because of the pandemic. People in my community are having real difficulty with maintaining safe social distance, making any attempt too high risk. Hoping for next year," one reader wrote.

On the other side, some believe it should happen considering its outdoor location.

"It's an outdoor activity and easy for children to wear masks. Any family or household that does not want to participate can just turn off their outdoor lights, like any other year," another respondent wrote.

The survey was open from midday on Thursday Sept. 24 through midday on Tuesday, Sept. 29. This survey is not meant to be a scientific poll due to random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way.

For those who do trick-or-treat, VDH recommends:

• Staying home if have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past ten days, or have been in contact with someone with COVID in the past 14 days. If you are self-isolating or self-quarantining, do not participate in trick-or-treating this year, and look for other virtual options to celebrate.
• Maintaining six feet of distance from others outside your household.
• Washing your hands before trick-or-treating or handing out candy. Hand sanitizer should be used while trick-or-treating or handing out candy when soap and water aren't available.
• Wearing a cloth mask. Halloween masks may not fit snugly against the face and may not cover the nose and mouth. Halloween masks with gaps and holes do not protect against inhaling respiratory droplets from other people. Wearing a cloth mask under a Halloween mask may make it hard to breathe and is not recommended.
• If you hand out candy, consider setting up an area outside, like a folding table or chairs, to set out candy. Space out the placement of treats so that multiple people do not have to reach into the same bowl or find contactless ways to deliver treats, like a candy chute that is more than six feet long. For trunk-or-treating, create distance between cars by parking in every other space.