Use common sense, caution to keep kids safe from accidents, COVID-19

COVINGTON, Ky. – Whether you pass out candy or make the annual trek in search of some, here’s the official news: Trick or treat hours in the City of Covington will take place 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31.

So … start putting those costumes together, buying that candy, clearing your sidewalk and/or steps of obstacles, carving those pumpkins, cueing up the scary music, and doing whatever else it is that you do to prepare).

As always, City officials stress the need for caution and common sense rules to keep children safe, especially this year with COVID-19 numbers remaining dangerously high.

As far as decreasing the risk of spreading the respiratory illness, trick or treaters are urged to maintain social distancing (don’t crowd those not in your group) and to limit their group size.

Likewise, people passing out candy should avoid handing candy directly to kids and avoid placing bowls and boxes filled with candy for kids to root through. Instead, they should place individually wrapped candy outside on a table or platform on the porch or in the driveway. (Some homeowners last year devised “candy delivery systems” that included PVC pipe, for example.)

Meanwhile, some general safety tips for trick or treating:

• Be careful crossing streets.
• Adults should accompany young children. Older children should travel in groups.
• Stop only at houses with an outside light on.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers.
• Be wary of masks that obstruct vision. (Use face paint and makeup instead.)
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. 
• Costumes shouldn’t cause kids to trip. 
• Drivers need to slow down and be alert.

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