COVID-19 pandemic could scare off Halloween trick-or-treaters
The holiday that celebrates wearing masks may not happen this year on account of the pandemic.
Halloween is on course to be nixed by COVID-19, according to a Harris Poll that found nearly three out of four people surveyed have no plans to take their costumed kids door-to-door in search of candy. Only 27% of the 1,970 adults polled said they anticipate seeing kids trick-or-treat on Oct. 31.
Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema told USA Today that respondents seemed resigned to the notion that the riding out the coronavirus pandemic will be a long process.
“And most telling, perhaps, is that 80% of Americans anticipate a second wave of COVID even as we battle this first one,” he said.
The survey, which looked at what Americans anticipate the fall season looking like, also found 61% of those employed expect to work from home after summer ends. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed expect their kids to be home in the fall as well.
Of those asked, 75% said they’re more likely to wear a mask this month than they were last month. President Trump and Vice President Pence began promoting masks in recent weeks. The president was finally photographed wearing one this month. The CDC insists facial coverings will reduce the viral transmission. More than 140,000 Americans have been killed by COVID-19 in 2020.
The Harris Poll also found that older respondents are more likely to wear masks and adhere to social distancing recommendations than younger people.
Of the seniors in the study, 96% said they practice social distancing and 94% advocate for masks. Gen Z respondents were 77% likely to social distance and 78% likely to wear a mask.
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