While this Halloween won’t look the same as we’re used to, it doesn’t mean that all of the spooky fun has been eliminated by the global pandemic.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services set recent recommendations to avoid the spread of COVID-19 during Halloween.
Among them, MDHHS recommends homeowners use duct tape to create six-foot separation for trick-or-treaters. The department also reminds parents to talk to their kids early about the holiday looking a little different this year in case trick-or-treating in your neighborhood is canceled.
The CDC considers traditional trick-or-treating and trunk-or-treats as high-risk activities for the spread of the coronavirus.
Other tips for parents from the Department of Health and Human Services include:
- Only trick-or-treat with members of your own home
- A costume mask is not suitable as a face covering, consider a Halloween-themed face mask
- Maintain a six-foot distance from other trick-or-treaters
- Only go to houses with social distancing measures in place
- Inspect candy and throw away any that isn’t individually packaged
Halloween2020.org, a website created and maintained by the Halloween & Costume Association, has a county-by-county breakdown of COVID-19 risks across the country and how best to celebrate the holiday based on the color of your zone.
Most of southeast Michigan is in Halloween2020.org’s “orange zone,” so the site recommends alternative Halloween activities like a neighborhood candy hunt or spending the whole week dressing up in costume, taking pictures to post on social media and showing up to virtual school in last year’s duds.
Families still wanting to enjoy out-of-the-house scary fun, haunted houses are open for guests that maintain social distancing.
On Halloween night, MDHHS recommends that homeowners hand out candy at the edge of the lawn instead of the front door or have the neighborhood organize a costumed parade.
In lieu of trick-or-treating, the CDC advises outdoor Halloween scavenger hunts or a hunt within your own home for treats instead of door-to-door in the neighborhood.
Families who throw Halloween or Dia de Muertos celebrations are reminded that indoor gatherings of more than 10 are prohibited and to avoid buffet-style food service.
