Triad Public Health Expert Says 'Limited Trick-Or-Treating' May Be OK

A Triad health official says limited trick-or-treating could be allowed this Halloween,  but cautions against holding indoor parties. 

Dr. Christopher Ohl is an infectious disease expert at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. In a news conference Thursday, Ohl said there are ways to have a safe and fun Halloween.

He said it's possible to hand out candy without a lot of personal contact, but suggested that kids should “approach homes one group at a time.” He recommended daytime trick-or-treating, with treats being tossed out “Mardi Gras style” to children in yards and driveways, under adult supervision.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that Ohl admits his opinion differs from CDC guidelines released earlier this week, which listed door-to-door trick-or-treating as a high-risk activity.

Ohl warns that Halloween masks will not be effective against the spread of COVID-19, and agrees with the CDC that wearing a Halloween mask over a cloth mask is dangerous as it makes breathing difficult. He urges parents to look for Halloween-themed cloth masks. And he says large indoor parties should be avoided.

Ohl also said he's encouraged by the recent stable level of COVID-19 cases in Forsyth County, but warned that a second wave of the virus could arrive by late November or early December.

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