Six Feet and Trick or Treat

Dr. Ben Bring talks Halloween, Thanksgiving and fall fun

By Sarah Robinson

With cold weather blowing in and “Make sure that parents and kids are fun fall holidays fast approaching, wearing masks while outside and avoid large gatherings,” says Bring. “With the Dublin Life Magazine wanted to kids, many will be wearing a mask anyget the inside scoop on how to ways because of their costumes. And, it’s really easy to social distance while trickstay healthy while enjoying the or-treating.” season. We spoke to Dr. Ben Though there will be changes this year, there’s also room for more creativity. Bring, a family practice physician “This will create a good opportunity at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist for costume innovations,” says Bring. “I definitely encourage wearing face masks in Hospital for an expert opinion. some capacity, but also having fun. This

While pandemic precautions change by Halloween, you could dress up as Dr. Fauci the day, Bring remains positive that there or your favorite pandemic expert!” are safe ways to gather and celebrate both Halloween and Thanksgiving. Rethinking Thanksgiving

“Being able to go trick-or-treating from Thanksgiving will look different this year, door to door could be safely done,” says too. Gathering together won’t be easy. Bring Bring. “It’s going to be a perdiscusses his thoughts on celsonal preference, too, so famebrating turkey day safely. ilies have to weigh the risks “The traditional Thanksand benefits of their kids gogiving where you have 20 ing out and trick-or-treating.” people coming to your house

Instead of handing candy – I would be very cautious,” he directly to trick-or-treaters, says. “We just have to rethink consider spacing treats out how we do Thanksgiving.” on the porch for a safe, conBring suggests eating a tratactless candy pick-up. Have ditional meal with those livhand sanitizer at the ready ing with you, and then driving and hang up a sign explaining the treats are sanitized and soDr. Ben Bring by and doing some socially distant hang out time with loved cially distant. ones. Another great way to celebrate safely

For those choosing to go door to door, is with a virtual Thanksgiving. there are a few precautions to take to pro“I know everyone is itching to go back tect yourself and others. to normal, but at the same time we still

Trick or Treat

The Do’s and Don’ts of Trick-or-Treating DO • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth • Keep your distance from others • Bring hand sanitizer with you • Wash your hands frequently • Follow all Dublin and

Franklin County health guidelines

DON’T • Put out a large, communal candy bowl • Serve food and beverages • Take off your mask • Gather in large groups • Invite trick-or-treaters inside

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have to keep friends and family safe,” says Bring. “Maybe Thanksgiving turns into a family hike somewhere outdoors, a bonfire in the back yard or a bike ride together.”

If your family does choose to gather around food this year, Bring has recommendations on how to be as safe as possible.

“Try to minimize the amount of people cooking the food and then serving the food as well,” he says. “You could have one person with gloves on and probably even a face shield with a face mask serving food.”

Regardless of the way you and yours choose to celebrate, Thanksgiving is bound to be different this year. Bring looks on the bright side, though, and focuses on the freedom to start new traditions out of the unfortunate circumstances.

“There’ll be a lot of fun traditions that may get lost just for a year,” he says, “but also opportunity for new ones.”

Autumn advice

It’s easy to feel blue around the holiday season. This year, those feelings may be heightened.

“Now, it’s more important than ever to constantly be reaching out to friends and family, just checking in and asking ‘How are you doing?’ and ‘How are you feeling?’,” says Bring. “It’s obviously affected all of us. I think we’ve all gone through some kind of feeling down.”

Though it’s hard not to have those faceto-face interactions, there are ways to maintain closeness through your choice of video chat software. And despite the cooler weather, you can still gather in person outdoors. Bring recommends bundling up and spending time around a fire pit to keep warm.

“My daughter’s preschool teacher always joked that there is no bad weather, there’s only bad clothing,” he says. “Just make sure you’re well fitted to be outside when it gets colder here, but don’t be afraid to spend time outdoors.”

Don’t forget to protect yourself from regular old seasonal illness, too. Just like any other year, with the fall comes the flu.

“Make sure everybody gets their flu shot this year,” Bring says. “Now more than ever there’s a risk of compound infection where you could potentially be exposed to both coronavirus and the flu at the same time.”

Despite the words of warning, Bring leaves us with a positive message of hope.

“I’m a scientist at heart,” says Bring, “and I think science is going to win. I think we’re close to a vaccine. My hope is by this time next year, we could potentially get back to some sort of normal.”

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