Halloween kicks off Fall with the excitement of decorating, spending time with friends and family, and one of our favorite traditions, trick-or-treating. However, this year, the excitement should be celebrated in the safety of our homes due to COVID-19.

Trick-or-treating during a pandemic that has already killed 230,000 Americans is a mistake. If we allow trick-or-treating, kids — who may be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 — will touch the same doorbells, grab candy out of the same bowls, and bump into each other as they approach houses, putting themselves, and others, in great danger. 

Christina Kim, junior, and annual trick-or-treater, agrees that trick-or-treating should be cancelled because “it’s not safe and people shouldn’t be putting other lives in danger just for some candy.” 

Though many follow rules and specific precautions, younger kids tend to be less careful when it comes to safety measures like mask wearing, hand-washing, and physical distancing. Mistake-prone kids running around, eager for treats, and stepping up to stranger’s doors is a super spreader event waiting to happen. 

It’s understandable that Halloween is supposed to be a night of celebration and a way to forget the ugly reality of the pandemic, but the consequences, especially for children and their adult caretakers, are too serious. Putting kids’ health at risk for one night of candy hoarding and costumed fun is not worth it. So keep yourself safe this Halloween and enjoy your store-bought bags of candy in the safety of your home.