The traditions of 31 October aren’t things you would immediately consider to be “COVID-safe”. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that Halloween is canceled.
The Centers of Disease Prevention and Control released a list of guidelines that provides the rules and regulations for the celebration of Halloween. It also asks the family to take precautionary measures during trick or treating by carrying hand sanitizers and by wearing cloth masks and not just Halloween masks. But there are some communities which are completely against of celebrating Halloween by going trick or treating on a door-to-door level.
“The whole act of going door to door in groups, ringing doorbells, digging into buckets of delicious candy, creates a risk of spreading COVID-19,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary. In addition to this, he has also said that if at all someone gets transmitted with the deadly virus then, it will be impossible to trace the origin of the virus.
The California Department of Public Health has released guidance and listed below are the recommendations:
The safest way to celebrate Halloween is to spend time with people in the same household or to celebrate virtually. Some specific alternatives that are low risk but still capture the holiday fun include:
- Creating a haunted house or candy scavenger hunt in your home.
- Having a scary movie night and Halloween-themed activities (pumpkin carving, face painting) at home.
- Participating in online parties/contests (e.g. costume or pumpkin carvings)
- Attending car-based outings where people do not leave their car including drive-in events or contests or movies; driving through an area with Halloween displays.
- Eating a Halloween-themed meal with your household (alone or with up to 2 other households, not including your own, for a meal outside following all other gathering guidelines)
- Enjoying a Halloween-themed art installation at an outdoor museum with your household.
- Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations.
- Giving treats at home only to those in your household.
- Send a curated playlist and/or themed treats (or tricks) to your friends ahead of time.
- Designing face masks that reflect your children’s Halloween costumes.
- Prepare a Halloween basket for your children or Halloween hunt in your backyard.
Regardless of the Halloween celebration, you should keep the following things in mind:
- Face Coverings
- Maintaining social distance
- Keeping good hygiene
- Minimize meeting people
- Avoiding social gatherings
- Staying home if you are unwell
