Ohio man goes viral for inventing social-distanced trick-or-treating method for pandemic

An Ohio father and daughter went viral on social media after posting about their new creation that could give families across the country a safe way to go trick-or-treating on Halloween amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Andrew Beattie announced his invention: a six-foot-long candy chute made out of cardboard and other “throwaway materials” Beattie said he had around his house. 

“If this candy chute makes things easier or safer, AND gives those with mobility challenges more of a chance to participate, then what’s the harm?” Beattie wrote in the post. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, ya’ know.”

In an interview with Fox 19 in Cincinnati, Beattie said the chute can be used by people using gloves or tongs to pick out candy from a bag, and which they can then drop down the tube for trick-or-treaters to collect. 

As of Wednesday, Beattie’s Facebook post was shared approximately 75,000 times. 

“I just really appreciate the response that people have had out here with sharing it and with trying to be proactive,” Beattie told Fox 19. “And you know, for the people who have concerns or don’t think it’s a good idea, I believe that’s coming from a good place, too, and we appreciate you putting your thoughts out there that might make us think of something that we missed.”

This comes as elected officials and others have raised concerns over how Halloween will be celebrated as COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S. 

Last month, a bipartisan group of 30 members of Congress sent a joint letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield asking the health official to provide safety guidance on community activities around Halloween amid the pandemic. 

The Los Angeles County Health Department announced last week that it was banning door-to-door trick-or-treating in the area on the upcoming holiday in order to maintain proper social distancing guidelines.