Trick or treating

Children and adults both look forward for Halloween day celebrations. This year Coronavirus pandemic is making it difficult to decide whether to go for trick or treat or to attend parties. We all agree, that we must adjust to new normal which is taking maximum precautions to be safe and healthy in the midst of celebrating Halloween. We don’t want to risk our lives and don’t want to add more numbers to already surging Covid cases.

How to celebrate Halloween in this pandemic to have fun and same time to be safe? CDC has several suggestions and tips for this year’s Halloween celebrations.

Traditional Halloween activities are fun, but some can increase the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 or influenza. Plan alternate ways to participate in Halloween.

Steps to Take when Trick or Treating

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.

Steps to Take for Other Halloween Activities

Enjoy Halloween activities and take steps to protect yourself from getting or spreading COVID-19.

Remember to always

• Wear a cloth mask
• Indoors and outdoors, stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently

Decorate and carve pumpkins

• Decorate your home for Halloween.
• Carve pumpkins with members of your household or outside with neighbors or friends.
• Walk from house to house, admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.

Visit an orchard, forest, or corn maze. Attend a scavenger hunt.

• Go on an outdoor Halloween-themed scavenger hunt.
• 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.

Other Ideas

• Hide Halloween treats in and around your house. Hold a Halloween treat hunt with household members.
• Hold an outdoor costume parade or contest so everyone can show off their costumes.
• Host an outdoor Halloween movie night with friends or neighbors or an indoor movie night with your household members.

For more Halloween and Holiday precautions visit: www.CDC.Gov. Image credit: CDC.Gov