County Releases Halloween Guidance; Latest Berkeley Case Count

Courtney Teague
·2 min read

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — Haunted houses, large parties and indoor mazes should be a no-go in the era of the coronavirus, Alameda County officials announced Monday.

And even if your Halloween costume comes with a mask, you should still wear a face mask, officials said in a news release jointly issued by Bay Area health officers. Maybe this year is the one to focus on decorations and virtual costume contests.

The public should keep a close eye out for COVID-19 symptoms after the holiday — especially three to seven days afterward. Anyone who experiences symptoms can learn how to get tested in Alameda County here.

"These holidays are no different than the rest of the year when it comes to reducing the spread of COVID-19," health officials wrote.

Officials gave guidance on which seasonal activities are lower-risk, moderate-risk, high-risk and very-high risk. Here's the official word on Halloween and Día de los Muertos traditions, according to the county:

Lower Risk

"Stay home, keep it small."

  • Carving pumpkins, scavenger hunt trick-or-treat with members of your household

  • Outdoor pumpkin patch visit (while masked and maintaining six feet of distance from others)

  • Carving pumpkins outside with very small group (while masked and maintaining six feet of distance from others)

  • Virtual costume contest

  • Decorating your home

  • Creating in-home ofrendas

  • Preparing traditional recipes and playing music at home to honor loved ones who have died

  • Vehicle-based gatherings, such as drive-through attractions or drive-in movies

Moderate Risk

"If you must."

  • One-way trick-or-treating, with individually wrapped goodie bags for guests to grab and go at the end of a driveway (while masked and maintaining six feet of distance from others)

    • Wash hands before and after making bags

    • Bring hand sanitizer while trick-or-treating and immediately wash hands

    • Eat candy at home

  • Small outdoor movie night or costume parade (while masked and maintaining six feet of distance from others)

  • Themed outdoor dining

Higher Risk

"Please avoid."

  • Traditional trick-or-treating, which brings people from various households together

    • Consider turning off your home light or posting a sign

  • Rural fall festival outside of your community

Very High Risk

"Not permitted by state and local orders."

  • Crowded parties, whether indoors or outdoors, are linked to many Bay Area COVID-19 cases

  • Sharing, eating, drinking, talking loudly, singing with people outside of your household

  • Haunted houses

  • Indoor mazes

  • Trunk-or-treat, with candy handed out from cars in parking lots

There have been 21,240 cases of the coronavirus reported in Alameda County as of Monday, including 406 deaths. Here's the breakdown by location:

  • Alameda: 409

  • Albany: 58

  • Berkeley: 701

  • Castro Valley: 538

  • Dublin: 280

  • Eden Area: 1,335

  • Emeryville: 85

  • Fairview: 156

  • Fremont: 1,415

  • Hayward: 3,068

  • Livermore: 889

  • Newark: 567

  • Oakland: 8,396

  • Piedmont: 36

  • Pleasanton: 449

  • San Leandro: 1,161

  • Sunol: 12

  • Union City: 764

  • Other: 37

This article originally appeared on the Berkeley Patch