A safe Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic may look and feel a little different this year as people decide how they will celebrate – whether it’s having fun from a distance, trick-or-treating, enjoying Halloween at home or something in between. Sacramento County Public Health would like to share information on how to take part in this holiday in a manner that reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Background
COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, is a respiratory illness that is spread through the air via respiratory droplets from an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to others by infected persons who have few or no symptoms.
It is thought that the virus may also spread to hands from a contaminated surface and then to the nose, mouth or eyes, causing infection. Therefore, personal prevention practices (such as handwashing, staying home when sick, maintaining 6 feet of distance, and wearing a face covering) and environmental prevention practices (such as cleaning and disinfecting) are important ways to prevent the virus’ spread.
Requirements may change. Please visit EMD.SacCounty.net regularly for updates.
Be Ready for Trick or Treaters:
When passing out candy, consider a plan for social distancing:
- Wash hands before and after handling candy.
- Do not pass candy out from inside of your home; give out candy from the porch or drive way instead of from the front door
- Wear a face covering
- Only give commercially packaged candy
- Place a table between the person handing out candy and the trick or treaters to help maintain 6 feet social distance
- Make a variety of treat bags with commercially packaged candy and hang from streamers in the yard (or tape candy to skewers on the lawn)
- Place a bowl or container of candy at the end of the driveway or walkway with some hand sanitizer and watch from the porch
- Use a candy grabber or tongs to hand out candy or place on a table to be picked up.