Don’t Let COVID Crush Your Halloween Spirit
October 22, 2020
If you think there’s not a ghost of a chance of enjoying Halloween this year, think again! While COVID-19 is changing the way we celebrate the holiday, there are still plenty of ways to have spooky and safe fun this Halloween.
Social Distancing. Experts are warning against indoor Halloween parties, haunted houses and traditional trick-or-treating since these activities put kids in frequent contact with other kids and adults who aren’t part of their household. But there are creative ways for all those little goblins and princesses to fill their bags and still maintain a safe social distance.
- Place individually wrapped candy or small goodie bags on a table on your sidewalk. Space them out so that kids can easily pick up a treat without touching the other treats on the table.
- Build a candy chute to distribute treats. YouTube has you covered! Try this simple version or this more elaborate chute.
- Instead of taking your kids out to trick-or-treat, have a fun Halloween scavenger hunt right at home.
Masks. This is an easy one, since masks are already part of Halloween tradition.
- If you’re going out for Halloween, incorporate a cloth mask into your costume. IMPORTANT: The CDC warns that costume masks are not adequate protection—and they can make it more difficult to breathe through a cloth mask—so wear only a cloth mask this year.
- Fun Halloween-themed cloth masks are available for purchase online and in many stores—or make your own with Halloween print fabrics or other creative ideas.
Handwashing. Make Halloween night safer with frequent handwashing and hand sanitizer.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after touching other people or items that many others might have also touched, such as pumpkins, apples or Halloween decorations.
- COVID-19 seems to spread mostly through the air, so you probably don’t need to wipe down candy wrappers before opening them. Read this insight from two public health researchers who are also parents.
The CDC has many more tips and guidance for a howling good Halloween while remaining COVID-safe. Thank you for all you’re doing—every day—to keep your workplace and your home safe and healthy! Happy Halloween!