Halloween: Tips for a Safe (but Still Spooky and Fun) Holiday

Halloween is on the horizon! As we approach the spooktacular holiday it is important to remember that we are currently seeing a steady rise in COVID-19 cases. The choices we make about how we will celebrate this holiday will have an impact. Our decisions will affect not only ourselves and our families, but our neighbors, our communities and the most vulnerable people among us. But that doesn’t mean that Halloween can’t still be spooky and fun!

Avoid high-risk activities

This Halloween, the Oregon Health Authority is recommending that Oregonians avoid traditional door-to-door trick or treating. “Trunk or Treat” events are also not recommended, because these are high risk activities for crowding among people outside your household. This recommendation aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which also recommends families avoid traditional trick or treating. Attending crowded costume parties held indoors, going to an indoor haunted house and going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household are also considered high-risk activities and should be avoided.

Choose safer, low-risk activities

Some ideas for safer, low-risk activities include:

• Hold an online costume contest
• Have a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Carve pumpkins with people in your household
• Go all-out to decorate your house or apartment
• Tour your neighborhood to look at decorated houses with members of your household
• Have a scavenger hunt trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home
• Have a scavenger hunt with a list of Halloween-theme items to look for in your neighborhood while keeping a safe distance from others

“If you dress up in a costume, be careful to plan a costume that allows you to wear a face covering,” said State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger. “Halloween masks will not protect you or others from coronavirus. Wearing a cloth or disposable face mask that fits snugly and covers your mouth and nose is still required while wearing a costume, no matter how scary or silly your costume is.”

Continue to follow safety guidelines

As you celebrate Halloween, don’t forget to continue to follow the guidelines to keep everyone safe:

• Maintain social distancing and limit close contact
• Wear masks
• Wash hands frequently

Thanks for doing your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 this Halloween!

Other holidays are also just around the bend, like Día de los Muertos! For all holidays your family celebrates, please keep social distancing and wear masks when in public.