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State Health Commissioner: Halloween Can Be Safe With Precautions

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Indiana’s state health commissioner said she believes there is a safe way that Hoosiers can enjoy Halloween this fall amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Decisions on whether to allow trick-or-treating this year are handled by local officials. And Dr. Kris Box said if the COVID-19 data in the community is at good levels, there’s no reason to cancel Halloween – while still recognizing that some precautions are important.

“It’s about washing your hands carefully, right?" Box said. "It’s about not letting your kids dig into that pumpkin, in that bucket, and eat it as they’re walking around unless their hands have been washed.”

Box said people passing out candy also need to keep COVID-19 precautions in mind.

“Rather than have a thousand kids reach into the bucket, you could probably have the person there at the door that’s passing it out who just washed or cleaned their hands – and then put it into individuals’ buckets,” Box said.

Box did caution against throwing big Halloween parties with lots of people – including children – present at one time.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.