CDC OFFERS HALLOWEEN GUIDANCE

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 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 Halloweenmovie 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 one-way trick-ortreating 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)

• 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 6feet 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 outdoor Halloween movie night with local family and friends with people spaced at least 6feet 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