Coronavirus concerns surround this year’s Halloween festivities, but in most places, the holiday hasn’t been canceled.
Public health officials say traditions can and should be modified to include coronavirus-related precautions, which are key to preventing already surging positivity rates from increasing more rapidly.
On Wednesday, 56 newly reported positive cases were added in Johnson County, and the seven-day positivity rate rose to 12.7%. The seven-day rolling positivity rate increased 4% over the last week, signaling that new cases are trending upward.
Johnson County city and towns have assigned trick-or-treat hours, and local parks, nonprofits and churches plan to offer events.
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Creativity and flexibility to modify traditions will be the keys to a safe Halloween this year, said Betsy Swearingen, health department director. With modifications, trick-or-treating could be about as safe as going to a restaurant for take-out, she said.
“We’ve all got to put on our creative hats and find a way to give the kids what they want,” Swearingen said.
Swearingen recommends residents mirror modifications that have been made for other large events, such as staying six feet away from others, handing out pre-packaged treats and moving gatherings outdoors.
For example, for trick-or-treating door to door, or trunk-or-treating car to car, those handing out treats should create treat bags so everyone doesn’t have to reach into a bowl, Swearingen said, adding that any change that reduces how many people are touching and interacting with the same objects is recommended, she said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) further recommends avoiding direct contact with trick or treaters, giving treats outdoors, washing hands before handling treats and wearing a mask to hand out treats.
Social distancing should continue for Halloween events, with all costume contests, parades and treat lines at homes to have individuals from different households spaced six feet apart, Swearingen said.
Face coverings such as cloth masks should be incorporated into each costume, the CDC says. Halloween masks are not a substitute for a face covering, according to CDC. Since it may be hard to breathe with both a Halloween mask and a protective face covering, the CDC recommends against wearing two masks together.
Most Halloween traditions can continue safely, but a few are discouraged by public health officials. The main concerns for Swearingen are large indoor parties and sharing food or drinks.
If residents do have parties, it is recommended that only a small number of guests from the same exposure group are invited, meaning only those who have spent time around the same people and haven’t had a known exposure to the virus, she said.
Instead of indoor events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends outdoor alternatives, such as visiting a corn maze, haunted forest, apple orchard or taking a walk to look at decorations.
Small outdoor gatherings, such as carving pumpkins with neighbors, costume parades and Halloween scavenger hunts can also be safe if social distancing recommendations are followed, the CDC says.
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Here is a look at CDC recommendations for Halloween:
These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:
- 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
- Doing a 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
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Moderate risk activities:
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
- If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
- Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
- Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
- Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
Higher risk activities:
- Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
- Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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