COVID-19 Halloween Guidance

 Thanks to vaccinations available for adults and kids ages 12 years and older, Halloween this year could be a lot more like Halloweens in the past: full of trick-or-treating, seeing friends and family, and delighting in spooky events.

Federal health officials have deemed trick-or-treating and participating in Halloween events low-risk this year, but it’s still important to exercise caution and stay vigilant about safety.  

Trick-or-treat outdoors

Rather than in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, COVID-19 is much less likely to spread outdoors. To protect younger children who haven’t been able to receive the vaccine yet, staying outdoors is your best bet.

If trick-or-treating, have your kids travel in small groups. When combining different households, keep a bit of distance between groups for extra safety. Make sure that your children know to avoid large clusters of children waiting to receive their goodies at doorsteps.

Gather in small groups

Whether celebrating indoors or outdoors, it’s best to limit your gathering to a small group of people. However, remember to take precautions like washing your hands and making sure you’re in a well-ventilated space.

Be careful at large events

For larger events, outdoors will always be safer than indoors. If there is a large crowd at an outdoor event, keep a safe distance from others and wear a mask.

If your family plans to visit an indoor trick-or-treating or community event, wear a mask. Keep a safe distance from others and make sure to sanitize and wash your hands.

Wear a proper face mask

It’s important to know that a costume mask is not a substitute for a proper face covering that has multiple layers of breathable fabric or is a surgical-style mask.  Instead, try to incorporate masks with your kids’ costumes. The mask could match the costume’s color or print, or kids can even get creative by making a mask to incorporate as part of their costume. Just be wary of painting masks for some paints may contain toxins.

Offer prepackaged goodies

If you are planning on handing out goodies at home, consider lining up prepackaged goodies on a table outside for children to easily grab and go to avoid long lines and clusters. Make sure to wash your hands before assembling the goodies.

Other safety measures

In addition to COVID-19 safety measures, make sure to practice basic Halloween safety measures like ensuring that your children’s costumes fit properly to avoid tripping; ensuring that their costumes or treat bags are bright and reflective in some way; and double-checking that your child’s treats are properly sealed before enjoying.