With the fall comes crisper temperatures but traditionally also a slew of fun activities to celebrate Halloween. Haunted houses, costume contests and trick-or-treating are typically all the rage. However, with a pandemic, medical experts caution people with a few tips for practicing Halloween safety, starting with a list of activities that pose a higher risk for participants.
What are some high-risk activities?
- Door to door trick-or-treating
- Trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Indoor haunted houses
- Crowded costume parties held indoors
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
What are some lower-risk activities?
Most lower-risk activities focus on things you can do with your own household or virtually. The CDC suggests:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
- Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
- Virtual Halloween costume contest
- Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Costumed car parades, keep a safe distance from others
What’s the bottom line/most important things to keep in mind?
Remember: it’s safest to celebrate with people who are in your own household, or to do things outdoors where a safe physical distance can be maintained from those outside your household.
Continue to wear a mask when you go out (not just a Halloween mask, but a cloth mask), wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizer if soap and water isn’t available.
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, DO NOT participate in any group festivities (including handing out candy to trick-or-treaters).
Symptoms can include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
Here are some more Halloween Safety tips.