Trick or treating too risky, state says
One of the scarier things parents will navigate this year is how to celebrate holidays amid the coronavirus pandemic.
With Halloween and Dia de los Muertos around the corner, the state issued guidance on lowering one’s risk while celebrating the holidays. One of the top recommendations is to avoid trick-ortreating and going door-to-door with costume-clad youth.
“Some of the traditional Halloween celebrations such as parties, door-to-door trick-or-treating, we know pose a high risk of spreading COVID, and are therefore strongly discouraged,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s Health and Human Services secretary. “And we suggest families, given this, should plan now on safer alternatives.”
Ghaly noted that he is dealing
with the issue himself as his kids work on costumes of the “NBA bubble” and the coronavirus.
Ghaly noted that the recent guidance that allows gatherings of up to three households outside for a couple of hours would be an opportunity for festive fun.
“As the governor eloquently said … guidance here does not mean go. It does not mean that we’re endorsing or suggesting that small gatherings happen,” he said. “We just want to be able to provide (guidance) as we go into Halloween and a number of other holidays, important ways to reduce your risk, so that we make sure you protect yourselves, your families, and your communities.”
He also noted that Halloween masks are not the same as cloth mask coverings that are required for many activities across the state.
Festivities that do meet state guidelines for Halloween include:
• virtual gatherings with an online costume or pumpkin-carving contests;
• decorating your home or yard, or driving around looking at decorations at other’s homes;
• having a scary movie night;
• creating a haunted house or a candy hunt.
For Dia de los Muertos celebrations, the state recommends:
• creating virtual altars or altars in front windows so others can see;
• visiting graveyards with only the people you live with and following mask and social distancing rules.
The state added that county health officials can make additional rules about the holidays.
Questions sent to the Humboldt County Joint Information Center about Halloween were not answered before the Times-Standard publishing deadline.
The city of Eureka last week announced Halloween plans that have been approved by county health officials, including a Boo at the Zoo event and pumpkin hunts at Sequoia Park, Cooper Gulch and the 20/30 park.
Additionally, the city suggests some Halloween-in-quarantine activities including scavenger hunts at home, decorating and carving pumpkins, and virtual gatherings.
Trinidad plans to discuss Halloween at its Tuesday night meeting this week.
More state guidance can be found online at https:// bit.ly/3iXpBpG.