DAYTON, Ohio — With Halloween just four days away some people may be foregoing trick or treating and instead doing a trunk or treat event, where people pass out candy from the trunk of their cars.
News Center 7′s Monica Castro asked Public Health-Dayton and Montgomery County if trunk or treat is a safer alternative.
While many families have their pumpkins or bags ready for the big day, officials with Public Health say any trick or treating even trunk or treat is not safe. It is suggesting a drive through even instead.
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Dan Suffeletto, Public Health-Dayton and Montgomery County Supervisor, said, “Trunk or treating is not what we are really recommending because people tend to still gather in the parking lot and get together in groups. That’s something that we don’t want to see happen.”
He said most Halloween activities are risky, unless it’s virtual. However, a safer alternative is hosting a drive-through event.
“You are briefly driving through, and someone is handing you something out the window and that will be a way to keep your distance as much as possible,” Suffeletto said.
If you decide to do a trick or treating event, a trunk or treat event or even a drive-thru you should wear a mask, maintain social distancing, wash your hands, keep your group to your immediate family and limit visits with people.
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According to Suffelleto, “Just go to a few houses right in your neighborhood so that you know that homes you go to so in case there is exposure we’ll be able to contact tracing.”
Castro asked health officials if they are concerned about Halloween gathering as the COVID-19 numbers rise.
“There’s a lot of things to be concerned about in terms of people gathering together and that’s something we have to remind people you don’t want to do.”
Public Health-Dayton and Montgomery County is hosting it' drive-thru Mask or Treat even this year because of COVID-19. They will hand out free face masks and candy. They event is Thursday from 4-6p.m. at the Dr. Charles R. Drew Health Center in Dayton.
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