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Coronavirus Watch: Is trick-or-treating safe this year?

Grace Hauck   | Paste BN

Last year, the nation's top infectious diseases expert advised parents not to allow their children to go door-to-door for trick-or-treating.

But this Halloween, parents can safely allow their children to trick-or-treat outdoors, Dr. Anthony Fauci has said.

Experts say it's still best to take precautionary measures given that most trick-or-treating children are under 11 years old, and others are likely to still be unvaccinated. Vaccines have been authorized for children 12 and older and could be authorized for kids 5 to 11 by the middle of next week.

Kids who can get vaccinated should do so for an "extra degree of protection," Fauci added.

Here are some Halloween safety tips to consider, and here's an illustrated guide on how to keep your little ghosts COVID-free.

It's Friday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

  • Issues ranging from climate change to the pandemic await President Joe Biden and other world leaders this weekend when they convene for the two-day Group of 20, or G-20, summit in Rome.
  • Florida has filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the Biden administration from carrying out a measure to require vaccinations against COVID-19 for federal employees and contractors.
  • Ohio State University researchers have created a breath test that appears to be highly accurate at rapidly screening patients for COVID-19.
  • New York City's employees have until Friday evening to show they've received at least one dose of a vaccine or face being put on unpaid leave.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 45.8 million COVID-19 cases and 743,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 245.8 million cases and more than 4.9 million deaths. About 67% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 58% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Among U.S. adults, 80% have received at least one shot, and about 69% are fully vaccinated.

Tracking the pandemic: See the numbers in your area here. See where cases are rising here. See vaccination rates here. And here, compare vaccinations rates worldwide and see which countries are using which vaccines.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck

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