CDC offers Halloween guidance

NORRISTOWN » Montgomery County health officials said many traditional Halloween activities can be high- risk for spreading viruses.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined Halloween activities that are considered low-, moderate- and high- risk for COVID- 19,” said county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh.

County officials included the following CDC recommendations on the county’s website at www. montcopa. org/ HalloweenGuidance

Lower Risk

• 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 Halloweenthemed 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

• Participating in oneway trick- or- treating where individual ly 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)

• 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

• 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

• 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 outdoorHalloween movie night with local family and friends with

people spaced at least 6 feet apart

Higher Risk

• Participating in traditional trick- or- treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door

• Having trunk- or- treat events 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

BEN HASTY— MEDIANEWS GROUP Halloween is fast approaching, and this year it will be different because of the coronavirus pandemic.