How to Celebrate Halloween Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Randy K. Hawkins
·As we approach the end of October, you may have questions about how to celebrate Halloween while continuing to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19. Traditional activities like trick-or-treating where children are handed candy as they go door-to-door is, unfortunately, high risk for spreading viruses, but it doesn’t mean taking part in Halloween festivities is out of the question.
Regardless of the day, we need to continue to follow the standard guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including wearing a mask, avoiding large indoor gatherings, and maintaining 6-feet of physical distance.
In addition to these basic safety rules, here are some additional guidelines to help you celebrate Halloween safely:
- Review and follow all local Halloween guidelines
- If offering treats, place them in a bowl outside your door
- Only trick-or-treat within your own neighborhood
- Use hand sanitizer between visits
- Avoid sharing treats among groups of children
- Limit trick-or-treat activity to a brief period of time
If you’re struggling with how to replace trick-or-treating with safer, family-friendly activities, the CDC also offers additional guidelines for fall and winter holiday celebrations and categorizes low-, moderate- and high-risk activities for Halloween.
| Risk level | Activity |
| Low risk | Pumpkin carving/decorating and virtual costume contests |
| Medium risk | Visiting a pumpkin patch or attending a small outdoor costume party while wearing a mask and using hand sanitizer |
| High risk | Traditional trick-or-treating and indoor haunted houses |
It’s unfortunate that we won’t be able to celebrate our fall and winter holidays as we did in previous years. We all want to get back to “normal” as soon as possible, but it’s more important this year, while the COVID-19 pandemic is still a real threat to our health and safety, to avoid activities that might encourage the spread of the virus. Following these guidelines will allow you and your family to celebrate Halloween safely this year while minimizing the spread of the coronavirus.
