‘Halloween 2020’ Website, Interactive Map Offer Tips For Celebrating Safely By Region

Data from the National Retail Federation released last week shows that the pandemic is not stopping Americans from embracing the holiday spirit of Halloween.

Diane Bondareff / AP Images for Tishman Speyer

Bobbing for apples and door-to-door trick-or-treating can be difficult to do while social distancing.

That’s why health officials are urging Americans to rethink the way they celebrate Halloween this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, data from the National Retail Federation released last week shows that’s not stopping Americans from embracing the holiday spirit.

So, how exactly can one celebrate safely?

A new initiative from the Halloween and Costume Association provides some suggestions for staying safe. It’s called Halloween 2020.

The website includes a list of resources and an interactive map that breaks down risk levels by county.

On Friday’s edition of “Closer Look with Rose Scott,” Dr. Thomas Tsai, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Kevin Johnson, chairman of the Halloween and Costume Association board, joined the program to tell us more.

Guests:

  • Dr. Thomas Tsai, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • Kevin Johnson, chairman of the Halloween and Costume Association board

To hear the full conversation, click on the audio player above.