CDC Releases Guidelines on Trick-or-Treating and Other Fall Celebrations During Pandemic

With over six months of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, holidays, birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations have had to be canceled, rescheduled or celebrated online or in social distanced ways. As fall approaches, many states and cities are debating the safety of large gatherings and activities like treat-or-treating.

The Centers for Disease Control has released guidelines on to stay safe during fall celebrations, including Halloween.

Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, indoor haunted houses, and hayrides are considered high-risk activities and should be avoided.

Instead, the CDC recommends “one-way” trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance. This alternative still carries a moderate risk since the hygiene of the candy givers and trick-or-treaters can vary.

For a safer option, the CDC suggests a “scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search” with your household members in or around your home rather than going door to door.

Other low risk fall celebrations include carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household, having a virtual Halloween costume contest, or having a Halloween movie night with people you live with.

According to the CDC, if you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in any in-person Halloween festivities, especially trick-or-treating.

Many states and cities have canceled their fall festivities, parades, and trick-or-treating events to stop the potential spread of COVID-19.

For cities that have not canceled trick-or-treating, residents have gotten creative with how to maintain social distancing while giving kids candy including candy slides, candy sticking, and even a candy zip-line. These options may be effective if families continue wearing masks and gloves and maintain good hand hygiene.

The CDC also offers recommendations for safe Día de los Muertos celebrations. Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors via no-contact delivery is considered safe. Making and decorating masks or making an altar for the deceased in your home and hosting a virtual get-togethers are safe alternatives to traditional celebrations.

The basic guidelines from the past six months still apply this fall: host outdoor activities, maintain social distancing, wear a mask, and practice good hygiene. If these basics are followed, fall celebrations can still occur just under different circumstances.

Read more about protecting yourself from coronavirus. Check the CDC website for more information on how to protect yourself and check our latest article to learn how COVID-19 differs from the flu.

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