As it has with other holidays this year, COVID-19 will likely have a cooling effect on Halloween.
Based on recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cole County Health Department has released guidelines to help protect families from the spread of the coronavirus during the Halloween season.
The CDC guidelines are available to view at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html.
As with other activities, if you are feeling sick, have recently tested positive for COVID-19, are awaiting test results, or have been identified as a close contact of a positive case, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not open your door for trick-or-treaters, the county Health Department recommends.
You should also consider not participating in in-person activities if you, your child or others in the home have an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
The Cole County Health Department's guidelines are available to view at colecounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/6081/Tips-and-Tricks-For-Halloween-PDF?bidId=.
The county Health Department's guidelines for COVID-19 prevention during the Halloween season include the following.
Trick-or-treating
Limit trick-or-treating groups to family units and households only.
Avoid congregating with other groups.
Remain distanced and allow other groups to finish and leave before approaching a house.
Regularly use hand sanitizer, especially before and after touching candy. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60 percent alcohol.
Wear face masks while trick-or-treating. (A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask. Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because that may make it hard to breathe.)
Consider trick-or-treating early in the day.
Limit the amount of time your group trick-or-treats and the number of houses you visit.
Passing out candy
Regularly use hand sanitizer or wash hands, especially before and after touching candy.
Wear a face mask while passing out candy.
Consider passing out candy earlier in the day to allow for fewer crowds. (Support "Under 5 before 5" to allow families with young children to trick-or-treat earlier.)
Consider creating grab-and-go bags of candy to avoid a communal candy bowl.
Create a candy chute to avoid close contact.
Use duct tape or other markers to mark where candy will be distributed and help avoid crowds on the front porch.
Neighborhood events
If you live in a neighborhood that is considering holding a neighborhood event, here are some guidelines you may want to consider:
Avoid indoor gatherings because they may pose a higher risk than outdoor gatherings due to poor ventilation and less space to social distance.
Limit attendance to outdoor gatherings, so there is more space for social distancing.
Trunk-or-treat events
If you are considering a trunk-or-treat event, consider these ideas:
Extend the hours and limit participation to allow for social distancing.
Block off parking spaces between vehicles to allow for distancing between vehicles, families or households.
Monitor entrances to allow for proper spacing.
Groups should be limited to family units or households.
Face mask should be worn by all attendees.
Have hand sanitizer available at entrance, throughout the space and upon exiting.
Consider setting up grab-and-go bags of candy to avoid a communal candy bowl.
Haunted houses
Haunted houses should consider these guidelines:
Organizers should take precautions, and if possible, move the events outdoors.
Create a one-way, walk-through haunted forest.
Require face masks for all attendees.
Groups should be limited to family units or households only.
Have hand sanitizer available at entrance, throughout the haunted house and upon exiting.
Monitor entrance to allow for proper social spacing.
Screaming, singing and projecting your voice can increase the risk of transmitting COVID-19, so greater physical distance between groups is highly recommended.