Trick or treat? Arizona health director says Halloween can be done safely

PHOENIX – Arizona’s top health official said there’s no reason to disappoint kids looking forward to trick-or-treating, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“Actually, my littlest one was crying the other day saying, ‘Please don’t cancel Halloween,’” Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday.

Christ said trick-or-treating can be done safely as long as participants wear face masks – the protective kind, not the costume kind – and follow social distancing guidelines as much as possible.

“Just placing a candy in somebody’s bag is not going to be high risk for transmitting coronavirus — it’s really that long, personal interaction that you have,” she said.

Christ said her department is developing recommendations on how to enjoy Oct. 31 activities in a low-risk way.

“We encourage parents when we get those materials up to review them and have a safe Halloween,” she said.

Christ suggested twists on traditional trick-or-treating like putting treats out in bags for kids to pick up without contact or throwing the candy.

“Not hitting the children, but creative ways to make sure that the kids still get to have a good time on Halloween,” she said.

“They still get to do their costumes, but we’re doing it as safely as possible.”

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