Halloween can be both FUN and COVID-SAFE with these tips

Thursday, October 15, 2020 Halloween can be both FUN and COVID-SAFE with these tips

Two sheet-covered ghost costumes for Halloween.

Everyone's looking forward to the spookiest holiday of the year, but you may be confused on how to enjoy your usual festive traditions. Having a hauntingly good time this fall doesn't need to be scary. It's still okay to treat yourself but follow these tips to do so responsibly and have a fang-tastic Halloween, courtesy of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.


Basic COVID-19 health measures must be followed during the holiday:

  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth UNDER your costume mask.
  • Wash your hands.
  • Maintain at least six foot distancing from others.

If you are sick, stay home and don’t prepare or distribute treats. Older adults, especially those with underlying health conditions or who are at a higher risk for COVID-19, should consider not participating in activities. Additional Health Department recommendations include:


Trick-or-Treating

  • Keep groups of trick-or-treaters to eight or less.
  • Use hand sanitizer while out and wash hands when you return home.
  • Don’t eat candy while trick-or-treating.

Handing out Treats

  • Wash hands before touching treats.
  • If possible, put treats in prepackaged bags.
  • Don’t allow children to reach into the treat bowl.
  • Be creative with physical distancing. Stay on the porch and line-up treat bags or use plastic or cardboard pipe to make a six-foot-long chute.
  • Use tape or chalk to mark six-foot lines on sidewalks in front of homes and leading to doorsteps.

Trunk-or-Treat Events

  • Consider a drive through-style event.
  • Consider a timed ticketed event that promotes correct distancing.
  • Don’t eat candy during the event.
  • Use hand sanitizer and wash your hands when you return home.

Neighborhood Halloween Celebrations and Parties

  • Toss candy from six feet away to children who remain on the sidewalks.
  • Set up curbside/drive through treat pickup sites.
  • Try a reverse trick-or-treat that lets children stand in front of their houses as treat bags are distributed to them.
  • Host a costume parade with a predetermined route marked to maintain safe distances between participants. Incorporate sanitizing stations, yellow caution tape, and tape or chalk on the sidewalks.
  • Keep gatherings outdoors and limit participation to eight guests or less.

Pumpkin Patch

  • Sanitize hands before and after touching pumpkins.
  • Avoid hayrides with people outside of your household.
  • Avoid indoor haunted houses and Halloween characters that scream or yell.
  • Maintain at least six foot distancing.

Haunted Houses

  • Due to distancing and ventilation issues, indoor haunted houses are to be avoided.

Read more from the Health Department here.


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