A Safe Halloween

Halloween is a coveted and widely celebrated holiday; however, to ensure that all participants are safe on Halloween, various precautions and measures need to be taken before we allow people to roam freely and collect candy. It might not be as spooky as it should, but right now nothing is spookier than the idea of catching a highly contagious virus.

First of all, any large gathering such as carnivals and parties should be eliminated. Expecting people to socially distance and maintain proper space is completely irrational and simply isn’t practical. To vanquish the threat of the virus spreading, it’s in our best interest to get rid of the gatherings altogether. Any partying should be limited to families, essentially a vacuum in which the virus cannot spread to an outside source. Of course, testing before the party is suggested and ensuring no one has the virus is the first priority. Certain college campuses have implemented a sort of vacuum in which positive testers are sent to an area with immediate care and are treated until they are negative. This should be normal procedure, not just on campuses, but in neighborhoods as well. As hospitals must deal with the immense influx of patients, it’s apparent we’re in dire need of a care center for Covid-19 patients alone. The current treatment is predicated on the patient being sent home, possibly infecting their family and moving the virus around unbeknownst to themselves. Covid-19 isn’t self-diagnosable and simply waiting for symptoms is ineffective at stopping it, as it moves far too quickly to recognize symptoms. 

An important aspect of Halloween is, of course, trick or treating. This practice is safely manageable as long as all involved wear a mask. Again, the best course of action to take is limiting gatherings to family only. The aforementioned rules and regulations are only federal; however, a massive proponent of these rules is the state government. Firstly, the state should assess which communities are at a greater risk and the amount of confirmed Covid cases in those communities. This will determine if events will be canceled or postponed. The attendees themselves must also determine if they should celebrate the events or postpone or cancel them. If their area has a minimum number of cases and they feel safe in celebrating, then they should be granted the ability to celebrate. The duration of the event must also be accounted for, as the less time spent at the gathering is safer. Again, the specific time granted is up to the state. The behavior of the attendees must be noted. The rules: staying six feet apart, wearing masks, and washing their hands must be adhered to at all times, and any participant not adhering to these rules should be immediately excluded from the event. 

As long as the citizens of the state adhere to the known rules and regulations provided, there shouldn’t be much limit on the opportunity of celebrating Halloween. Hopefully, there is a semblance of normalcy this year and everyone has the ability to celebrate the great holiday with as few restrictions as possible.