Trick or Treat event adapts with COVID-19 safety regulations

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For the third year, the police department partnered with the South Bend Cubs to put on “Cops and Goblins” at Four Winds Field. On the concourse, organizations set up tables to pass out candy to visiting trick or treaters.

“We put on this event every year because we enjoy that community engagement and just having a trick or treat opportunity for the kids in the community to come interact with police officers and others partnered with us through this event,” said Officer Keenan Lane of the South Bend Police Department.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s event looked a little different. The organizers had to submit a plan for approval to the St. Joseph’s County Health Department. The plan included limiting the evening to 3,000 people, enforcing a traffic flow that allowed for social distancing, mask wearing, and that those distributing candy were to wear gloves. The event was one of many for young children celebrating Halloween, and Dr. Fox with the St. Joseph County Health Department spoke with us about their recommendations to celebrating safely.

“We’re recommending that kids trick or treat within their own household unit,” said Dr. Fox of the St. Joseph County Health Department. “And for people distributing candy - we recommend that they be in cloth face masks and actually not allow kids to dip their hands into a communal bowl.”

While the event looked different this year, many were still happy to be able to celebrate.

“I’m glad that they are doing this. It’s a great way to get out during these times like this,” said attendees, Parker Adkins & Sebashtian Warrick. “They did an excellent job I think it was a good job by limiting ticket pricing and spreading out.”

Dr. Fox recommends for this Halloween to limit interactions with too many people. He says for those passing out candy to set prepackaged candy at the end of your driveway to maintain social distance.

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