The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered life as we know it. Through spring and summer, we’ve endured, making the best of lockdowns, quarantines, and stay-at-home restrictions.
But now that autumn is on the horizon, should we expect to miss out on our favorite fall traditions? We turned to medical experts for advice on which fall activities are safe and which are probably best to skip this year while the pandemic lingers on.
Is it safe to go trick-or-treating this fall?
Part of the fun of trick-or-treating is being able to pal around with friends and family, getting face to face with neighbors, and digging your hands into endless bowls of candy — all things that, in the era of COVID-19, aren’t such a good idea.
“This type of situation makes social distancing very difficult and exposes participants to multiple non-household members,” says Dr. Joseph A. Giaimo, a South Florida pulmonologist and president-elect for the American Osteopathic Association. “With numerous people reaching in and out of a container, it creates a high-touch area that should be avoided.”