DR. LOESCH DISCUSSES SAFE WAYS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

Josh Blaschke October 15, 2020

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Dr. William Loesch, shown here in a Washington County Joint Information Center video update from May 15th, says there are ways for families to enjoy Halloween this year despite COVID-19.

With Halloween coming quickly but COVID-19 still very much in the picture, many families are wondering how they will approach this year’s celebration.

Washington County Health Authority Dr. William Loesch says COVID-19 has changed everything, and Halloween is certainly no exception. He says while Halloween does not need to be added to the long list of activities and events cancelled this year, people looking to celebrate still need to remain wary.

As of Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Washington County has 36 active COVID-19 cases. Dr. Loesch says the county’s case count has remained consistent as of late, but that does not mean to throw caution to the wind.

In addition to staying outside, Dr. Loesch recommends keeping gatherings small, keeping distance as much as possible, and being generous with hand sanitizer.

Some other tips for trick-or-treaters include incorporating regular face masks into their costumes, sticking to locations they know, and making sure their hands are clean before digging into any sweets. A strategy for those giving out candy is to, instead of directly handing it out, leave baskets of it outside their home. Dr. Loesch joked that giving out hand sanitizer itself as a treat might not be a bad idea.

Dr. Loesch says it is still very much possible to have fun this Halloween, but the public just needs to keep in mind what it has learned over the course of the year.