Dr. Anthony Fauci says trick-or-treating not a problem with COVID-19 this year

Oct. 11 (UPI) — After Americans were largely advised last year to stay at home on Halloween, Dr. Anthony Fauci says this year can be more of a return to normal.

Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and top medical adviser to President Joe Biden, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that Americans, especially those who are vaccinated, should be able to observe the Halloween holiday normally.

“You can get out there. You’re outdoor, for the most part … and enjoy it,” he said. “This is a time that children love, it is a very important part of the year for children.”

For those who are still unvaccinated, Fauci said they should consider getting the vaccine for another layer of protection.

“It’s a good time to reflect on why it’s important to get vaccinated, but go out there and enjoy Halloween, as well as the other holidays that will be coming up,” he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 187 million Americans have been fully vaccinated.

The United States began inoculating its adult population against COVID-19 late last year with the Food and Drug Administration authorizing emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for those as young as 12 years old in May.

Last week, the company requested emergency authorization from the FDA for the vaccine to be administered to those as young as 5 years old.

Fauci told CNN that the current COVID-19 situation is “certainly going in the right direction” with cases, hospitalizations and deaths decreasing, but noted that it’s too early to declare victory.

“We still have around 68 million people who are eligible to be vaccinated that have not yet gotten vaccinated,” he said.

Last year before a vaccine was available, the CDC advised against children going door-to-door on Halloween, calling it a high-risk activity amid the pandemic, while identifying some low-risk substitutes, such as carving and decorating pumpkins and a scavenger hunt within one’s household, to do in trick-or-treating’s place.