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A safe (and fun) Halloween means some planning

With Halloween just a few weeks away and no end to the COVID-19 pandemic in sight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a statement advising against many of the more traditional holiday activities, and asks that families consider more low-risk ways to celebrate instead.

Some safe alternatives include:

≤ Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends

≤ Decorating your house, apartment or living space

≤ Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance

≤ Having a virtual Halloween costume contest

≤ Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with

≤ Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

The CDC also wishes to remind the public that a costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.

Some higher risk activities include:

≤ Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door

≤ Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots

≤ Attending crowded costume parties held indoors

≤ Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming

≤ Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household

In close-knit rural areas, it’s especially important to keep our numbers down so as to not overwhelm our local hospitals.

Planning ahead now can ensure kids still have a fun holiday while still remaining safe.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov.

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