How to keep Halloween trick or treating safe. And the latest Tri-Cities COVID cases

The decline in new COVID-19 cases in the Tri-Cities area continues, but public health officials are urging people not to let their guard down on Halloween.

“We know that holiday traditions are important to children and families and there are ways that we can enjoy the holidays, while reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19,” said Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary for the COVID-19 Washington state response.

If you are giving out treats on Halloween, the Washington state Department of Health recommends sticking with members of your own household and maintaining distance from others in crowded indoor or outdoor spaces.

Face masks are strongly recommended. Even if children are wearing a plastic costume mask, they also should wear a cloth mask underneath.

Bring hand sanitizer to use on your trick-or-treat route and wash hands before and after.

If you are giving out treats, consider placing them on a table in your driveway or yard. Candy should be in individually wrapped treat bags to limit the number of people touching items in a communal bowl.

To encourage distancing for kids waiting for treats, place mini pumpkins or other decorations in a line at six-feet intervals.

If you plan a Halloween gathering, keep it small and consider your guest list, including whether people may be at high risk for COVID and whether people are vaccinated.

Outdoor gatherings are safer, but if you plan an indoor event, make sure the space is well ventilated, such as a room with open windows, says the Washington state Department of Health.

Ask guests if they have had symptoms such as a cough, fever or shortness of breath in the last two weeks. If they have, they should not attend.

Use well-known strategies such as wearing face masks indoors unless most guests are fully vaccinated.

Frequently used surfaces should be disinfected before, during and after the gathering.

Tri-Cities cases drop

The Benton Franklin Health District has reported 210 new COVID cases so far this week, starting with the weekend.

Confirmed cases average 56 per day, compared to 69 per day at the same time last week.

The new case rate has dropped to 403 new cases per 100,000 people over the last two weeks for both counties combined.

That compares to a case rate of 917 at the end of September.

Franklin County’s case rate continues to be higher than Benton County’s, with a case rate of 392 in Benton County and 443 in Franklin County, as reported on Tuesday.

The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment in the two counties was 38 on both Monday and Tuesday, compared to 90 to 98 a month ago.

The COVID-19 patients on Tuesday accounted for just under 10% of all patients at the Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser hospitals.

COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to lag the state.

Statewide, 60% of all residents are fully vaccinated, not including some people who received the COVID-19 vaccine through the Veterans Administration or other federal programs.

In Benton County, just under 49% of residents are fully vaccinated and in Franklin County 43% of residents are fully vaccinated.