The doors are closed, the porch lights are off and the streets are empty. The only indication of this night is glowing jack-o-lantern in windows and on decks. This could be the scene on Halloween.
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, classic extravagant Halloween parties, going from door-to-door, and attending any crowded events should be avoided this year to lower the risk of spreading Covid-19. They recommend people create individual candy bags delivered to houses or host socially distanced costume parties.
In high school, most students grow out of childhood festivities such as trick or treating. Based on a journalism poll of 54 students, about 44 percent said they will not trick or treat. Instead, students will find other ways to celebrate Halloween. Of the students not trick or treating, 30 percent said they will hang out with friends and 21 percent said they will watch horror movies.
Students are also choosing to stay near family and friends instead of going to people’s houses. Eden Troxel, sophomore, plans to stay in Miami County and meet with her family.
“My family and I are going to where most of our family lives and my cousins will be trick or treating. Then we are going to come back to my house to have a Halloween party with all of our friends,” Troxel said.
Just like Bruce, Troxel and her family will not wear masks.
“We are only going to be around family members and people we know so there is no need to include masks,” Troxel said.
As a parent to a younger child, Kayce Bruce, family and consumer science teacher, said she doesn’t want her daughter to miss out on celebrating Halloween. Instead of going out and collecting candy from door to door, Bruce said they will limit contact with other people.
“My husband, daughter, and I are doing a drive through trunk-or-treat in Spring Hill and we are having a toddler Halloween party with two of our family friends,” Bruce said.
As for wearing masks, Bruce said they are not necessary.
“We will only be going to our neighbor’s houses whom we know and 2year-olds don’t keep masks on very well,” Bruce said.
Bruce and her family plan to dress up in costumes this spooky season.
“My daughter is going to be a cow this year. She loves going around and yelling moo so we thought it would be a perfect costume,” Bruce said.