COVID-19 has been scary enough this year; let's keep Halloween as safe as possible this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions on the risks of traditional Halloween activities, such as Trick or Treating for this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Depending on where you live and the current covid numbers and restrictions, this year's Halloween festivities may look a little different this year for your family.
Instead of Trick or Treating, the CDC recommends considering the following activities instead:
Decorate or carve pumpkins.
Walk from house to house, admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
Have a Halloween movie marathon at home.
Visit a pumpkin patch or orchard. Remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching frequently touched surfaces, pumpkins, or apples.
Go to a one-way, walk-through haunted forest or corn maze.
Hide Halloween treats in and around your house. Hold a Halloween treat to hunt with household members.
The CDC also recommends the following precautions for celebrating Halloween this year:
Make trick-or-treating safer
Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
Give out treats outdoors, if possible.
Set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take.
Wash hands before handling treats.
Wear a mask.
Wear a mask
Make your cloth mask part of your costume.
A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask. It can make breathing more difficult.
Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing.
Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you
Indoors and outdoors, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others for a long time.
Wash your hands
Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.
Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Parents: supervise young children using hand sanitizer.
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home and before you eat any treats.
We would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween this year!