Halloween & COVID-19

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading COVID-19 or influenza. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween.

If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person holiday festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Steps for Safer Trick-or-Treating

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.

Keep 6 feet apart 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.

• Choose a place to trick-or-treat where individually wrapped food or goodie bags are accessible for families to grab-and-go while continuing to maintain physical distance.

Clean your hands

• Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.

• 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.

Low Risk Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating

• Host a virtual Halloween costume contest.

• Have a Halloween movie night with people you live with.

• Create a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with the members of your household in or around your home.

Steps for Distributing Treats Safely

• Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.

• Give out treats outdoors, if possible.

• Use bowls to distribute individually wrapped treats for kids to take.

• Wash hands before handling treats.

• Wear a mask.

• Clean frequently touched items regularly.

Reminder to residents who do not want to pass out candy this weekend to turn off their outside lights.

Download our Halloween Safety Handout below!