How To Celebrate Halloween Safely During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Lucas Combos
Updated ·4 min read

SEATTLE, WA — There's no question that Halloween will look a little different in Washington this year, amid continued efforts to limit the opportunity for coronavirus transmission across the state. With that in mind, public health officials are sharing a few ways to celebrate the holiday safely, while still allowing kids to have some fun.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies traditional trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating and indoor haunted houses among the highest risk activities, and lists several alternative options for fall holiday celebrations on its website.

While formal guidance is still pending on the state and local level, Public Health - Seattle & King County has assembled a list of recommendations to aid in Halloween planning:

Trick-or-treating

Public health officials are encouraging alternate options to trick-or-treating, due to continued communtiy spread of COVID-19. The pandemic means unique challenges this year, as going door-to-door can lead to clusters of people on doorsteps and pathways, and difficulty ensuring everyone is wearing proper face coverings. For those who do decide to participate, Public Health - Seattle & King County suggests taking the following approach:

  • If you want to give out treats, understand the level of risk you’re willing to take. Packaged food is not considered a common source of coronavirus exposure, but it’s not without risk. If you put out a bowl of candy, a larger number of people will touch the bowl and candy. If you hand out candy out individually, fewer people touch the candy, but they come into closer contact with one another, especially if children line up outside the door. It’s close contact with others that creates the greater risk of COVID spread.

  • Reduce risk in how you hand out treats. Options to reduce (but not eliminate) risk include:

    • Use tape to mark waiting spots 6 feet apart on the way up to your door.

    • Use fun ways to give the candy while staying 6 feet apart, like slide the candy down a wrapping paper tube into their trick-or-treat bags. Or individually wrap goodie bags and line them up for families to grab and go while staying social distanced (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard).

    • When you answer the door for trick-or-treaters, wear a mask.

  • Wear masks that snugly covers the nose and mouth as part of the Halloween costume. Kids can decorate cloth face coverings with fabric markers or embellishments to go with their costumes! Avoid plastic masks with holes—commercial costume masks won’t provide the same level of protection unless they are made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that fit with no gaps around the face. Make sure kids wear their masks while trick-or-treating.

  • Make sure children (and adults) stay at least six feet apart from others. If you can’t keep physical distance, it’s best to avoid activities like trick-or-treating or going to a crowded pumpkin patch.

  • Wash your hands thoroughly when you get home. Carry hand sanitizer so that kids can wash their hands while trick-or-treating.

  • Set aside any candy that comes from outside your household for 24 hours before allowing children to handle it. Reality check: we know that it’s too much to ask of kids to wait to eat their candy. You might purchase a small amount of candy in advance so that you can have candy on hand that your kids can eat immediately on Halloween.

Halloween activities with lower risks

  • Organize a neighborhood costume parade with social distancing.

  • Decorate yards or your neighborhood.

  • Do a Halloween scavenger hunt by giving your kids lists of Halloween-themed things (like different types of decorations) to look for while they walk outdoors, keeping a distance from people outside your household.

  • Hold a virtual costume party online.

  • Exchange candy with families you know. Do a drop-off delivery at their doorstep for a Halloween surprise for the kids.

  • Trick-or-treat inside your home by hiding candy for your kids to find. If your kids like Halloween jump scares, hide yourself, too.

  • Have a spooky movie night or Halloween craft party with the family.

Tips for all ages

  • Avoid house parties and bars, where the risk is high for the spread of COVID.

  • Keep any gatherings small, outdoors when possible or if it must be indoors, in well-ventilated spaces (open windows and doors).

  • Avoid indoor haunted houses where people may be crowded together and screaming (people spray tiny droplets when they scream).

  • Incorporate a mask that covers your nose and mouth snugly into your costume. Wear the mask whenever you might be in close contact with anyone outside your household.

Read more about Halloween safety on the CDC and Public Health - Seattle & King County websites.

This article originally appeared on the Bellevue Patch