One-third of Utahns think it’s OK for children to go trick-or-treating as normal this year, while another 37% say it’s OK only if the kids and adults take precautions. That’s according to the latest poll by the Deseret News and the Hinckley Institute of Politics.
These are concerning figures in light of Utah’s stubborn spike in COVID-19 cases. The mix of children not taking precautions with others who do, to one degree or another, may lead to even more positive cases of the virus, or perhaps a flu outbreak.
It’s not clear how many of those who believe in taking precautions understand what those are (costume masks, for instance, are not a substitute for cloth masks). While children tend to fare better than adults, with some exceptions, they can spread COVID-19 to older people who might not do as well.
Many people apparently do not understand the dire situation in which Utah now finds itself. That was evident when, after daily new cases hit a record of 1,543 on Thursday, state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said, “I don’t know what to do anymore.” That record was shattered Friday with 1,960 new cases.
Utah’s hospitals are nearing capacity. Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday the state is preparing to turn the 50,000-square-foot Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy into a makeshift hospital. The rolling seven-day average of positive tests, as of Thursday, was 1,288 per day, with an average positive rate at 15.5%, which is a record high for the state.
In light of this, one thing Utahns should not do is engage in activities that would add to the problem. That means curtailing normal Halloween routines or, at the least, following strict guidelines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a list of steps to take for a safe Halloween. These include avoiding direct contact with trick-or-treaters and giving out candy outdoors, rather than inside the front door. Adults should consider setting up a separate place outdoors where children can take treats on their own without having to interact with adults.
Adults should wash their hands before handling the treats, and all involved should wear cloth masks. We note that some retailers are selling Halloween-themed masks that could make this easier.
The CDC also warns against wearing costume masks above cloth masks, saying this may cause breathing difficulties for children. Everyone should maintain at least a 6-foot distance between themselves and people with whom they don’t live. Parents and children should use hand sanitizer often after collecting candy or touching objects.
The CDC also suggests other activities in lieu of trick-or-treating, such as decorating the house and walking around a neighborhood to admire the decorations of others. Families could hold scavenger hunts or visit a one-way corn maze.
Utahns must understand that this is not a normal time. It is a time of extreme danger, especially for the state’s older and more vulnerable residents, and high overall transmission rates put them at risk.
Dunn wasn’t the only physician this week expressing concerns. Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, Intermountain Healthcare’s medical director of infectious disease, said Thursday, “For the first time in this, as a physician, I’m scared to see what’s to come.”
Halloween is scary enough on its own. The people of Utah need to modify their plans this year to make sure it doesn’t go from a make-believe type of scary to one that invites long-term health problems or death.