Updated: 10/20/21

Because so many birthday parties, family vacations and other childhood milestones had been canceled last year due to the pandemic, you may be determined to give your child a Halloween to remember this year. It is important to take some necessary precautions, especially because kids younger than 12, are still not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

We asked Cristina Cicogna, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack University Medical Center to weigh in on some tips and tricks for a safe Halloween. Here’s what Dr. Cicogna had to say:

Trick-or-treating guidelines during the pandemic

Some of you may be wondering if it’s safe to let your kids go trick-or-treating this year with COVID-19 cases still high. The CDC says it’s okay to trick-or-treat this Halloween and recommends that parents and kids limit crowds on Halloween and go trick-or-treating in small groups outdoors.

Halloween activities to avoid this year

Because there’s a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 when you’re in enclosed spaces, steer clear of any indoor activities this Halloween, such as:

• kids’ Halloween parties that are held indoors
• adult Halloween parties that are held indoors, especially if there’s alcohol and dancing
• outdoor Halloween parties that are moved indoors due to rain or cold weather
• indoor haunted houses, especially if the “haunted” scream
• outdoor haunted houses in which you can’t maintain 6 feet of distance from others at all times

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our clinical contributor: Cristina Cicogna, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Cicogna or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905.
• By the Numbers: Getting Ahead of Flu Season 

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care