More than 148 million American adults plan to take part in Halloween-related activities this year according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation. This week, the CDC put out new guidelines urging people to celebrate safely.
It used to be the time of year masks were worn for fun, not for necessity. If you're trying to figure out how to celebrate safely, the CDC has new guidelines on that, saying many traditional Halloween activities can spread the coronavirus.
The agency is asking people to avoid doing things in what it deems the "high-risk category," including traditional door to door trick or treating, indoor costume parties, hayrides and haunted houses with people who aren't members of your household.
Some activities in the moderate risk include one-way trick or treating, where goodie bags are lined up at a distance for families to grab and go, having a small group, outdoor costume parade where people are distanced more than six feet apart, visiting pumpkin patches or orchards with hand sanitizer, social distancing and masks.
If you want to celebrate and face the lowest risk, the CDC offers these alternatives to a traditional Halloween. Carving or decorating pumpkins with your family or outside at a safe distance with neighbors or friends. Decorating where you live, doing a Halloween scavenger hunt, holding a virtual Halloween costume contest or a movie night with your family are other options.
The agency says these will help you keep the holiday spirit and help slow the spread of COVID-19. The CDC says anyone who has coronavirus or has been exposed to someone who has it should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick or treaters.
