TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN SAFETY

 

 

TIPS FOR SAFE TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• Trick-or-treat only with immediate family members.
• Avoid direct contact with individuals passing out candy.
• Wash hands before handling treats.
• Wear a mask. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you.
• Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it after touching objects or other people.

TIPS TO SAFELY PREPARE FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS:

• Avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters.
• Wash hands before handling treats.
• Set up a station outdoors with individually wrapped goodie bags for trick-or-treaters.
• Wear a mask. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you.

Health officials encourage families to find safer, alternative or virtual ways to have fun this season. The safest celebrations involve people from your household, are outdoors, allow for social distancing and other safety measures. In addition, adults are urged not to participate in gatherings or parties on Halloween.

HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES WITHOUT RISK:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins
• Decorating your home
• A virtual Halloween costume contest
• A family Halloween movie night
• A trick-or-treat scavenger hunt at home
• A Halloween neighborhood scavenger hunt from a distance

HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES WITH RISK:

• Traditional trick-or-treating
• Haunted houses
• Hayrides or tractor rides
• Fall festivals
• Halloween parties or celebrations

Any Halloween activities should comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines and participants should limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by following these safety tips:

• Wear a face covering. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth or paper mask. Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it could make it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• Stay at least six feet apart.
• Avoid large parties or gatherings.
• Avoid crowded areas.
• Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating candy.
• Avoid touching your face.

Keep in mind, if any Halloween activities may lead to screaming, make sure everyone is wearing a face covering and staying more than six feet apart; the greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

If residents may have COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, stay home and do not participate in in-person Halloween festivities.  Residents who may have COVID-19, who are not feeling well, or have been exposed to the virus should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.

As a reminder, any Halloween activities are subject to the current gathering size limits set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.