Halloween Canceled for Third of Americans

With a month to go and coronavirus cases beginning to pick up again, Halloween may be forced to go remote in the U.S. this season. New data shows how nearly a third of U.S. parents are forgoing trick-or-treat plans with their child over fears of COVID-19.

In a new survey from Morning Consult, 31 percent of parents said they won’t let their child trick-or-treat this year over social distancing restrictions and concerns over the coronavirus. However, 38 percent said they still plan on allowing their child to trick-or-treat in some capacity despite these concerns. Another 31 percent said they don’t know and are waiting to see how the virus spreads closer to Oct. 31.

The poll was conducted at the beginning of September, when small new outbreaks of COVID-19 were just starting to be detected. Now, as the U.S. moves into October, positivity rates and case counts are rising to levels not seen in months. Colder weather and a general fatigue of social distancing are two of the main factors for the rise in cases, and it remains to be seen whether harsher restrictions will be enforced again if cases continue to rise.

For those who absolutely cannot go without trick-or-treating for a year, there are preventative measures that can be taken to mitigate risks for the mostly outdoor activity. Gloves and ample amounts of hand sanitizer are a must for both candy givers and takers, and groups of kids should probably be kept to small numbers to maintain proper social distancing. Still, there’s no question there’s an elevated risk of contracting or spreading coronavirus this Halloween season, and local and national medical experts will have the final word as the country approaches Halloween.