If your 2020 hasn’t been scary enough, brace yourself because spooky season is almost here. This Halloween may look a little differently than past years – but that doesn’t mean trick or treating has to be cancelled. Viruses do tend to spread more during holidays, so it’s important to follow the CDC guidelines for a safe and happy Halloween.
It’s important to educate yourself on your risk factor based on your local community. The website Halloween2020.org uses Harvard Global Health Institute’s COVID-19 data to inform you on your location’s risk level.
A little creativity can go a long way in protecting yourself and your neighbors. See below for our favorite tips on keeping spookily safe…
How to mask up for Halloween
Face masks have had quite a moment this year. Halloween is an opportunity to really take your face mask up a notch. Decorate it to match your costume and show off your creativity while protecting yourself from spooky COVID germs! Make sure your Halloween mask is following CDC mask guidelines.
*BONUS: Have a mask contest with your family and friends! Select some judges and start a group chat where everyone can text pictures of their masks.
How to celebrate Halloween virtually
- Trade in your big costume party for a Zoom party with family and friends. Avoiding face-to-face contact and large crowds are still necessary for limiting the spread of germs.
- Apps like Treat Town, created by the Mars Wrigley® candy company, allow you to enjoy a virtual trick or treating experience. For the whole month of October, you can trick or treat through the app by creating a spooky avatar and go door to door knocking on doors to get candy coins you can later redeem for real candy!
- Streaming services roll out all the Halloween movies around this time of the year. Grab some popcorn (or candy corn) and press play on a movie of your choice!
How to safely pass out candy
Before planning to pass out candy, you should research your state’s and local community’s guidelines. If you’re able, there are lots of creative ways you can join in on the treats without being tricked by germs! These are some fun ways to pass out candy to neighbors while staying socially distant:
- Tie up treat bags in a tree to have your neighbors “pick” them as they walk by
- Set out a candy station with treat bags on a decorated table on your lawn or porch. This lets families grab and go without contact. Avoid a bowl of candy so that numerous people are not reaching into the same place.
- Use a long PVC pipe or a shipping tube to create a candy chute to deliver candy six feet away – stand at your front door and drop the candy in the pipe and let it slide down to the trick or treaters!
- Surprise your friends by “ghosting” them – not with a sheet over your face, but with the ole ding-dong ditch approach. Leave a candy bag on your friend’s doorstep, knock on the door and then quickly leave.
Be prepared for your plans to change, and prepare your kids for the possibility of change, too. If you feel sick, stay inside. Stay six feet away from anyone not in your household, wash your hands and wear a mask covering your face and your nose.