Oct
When you think of fall, do pumpkin patches and Halloween automatically come to mind?
Picking the perfect pumpkin with your family or friends and then carving it when you get back home are what these autumn days are made for.
And what a ton of fun it is to walk around your neighborhood dressed up in a fun Halloween costume, trick or treating and getting the best candy on the block.
But what’s happening for Halloween 2020? Is Halloween cancelled?
No, Halloween is NOT cancelled. It’s just going to be quite different than usual. Read on to see what Halloween will look like this year.
Halloween 2020
2020 certainly took a turn that no one expected, as we’ve been facing a global pandemic for over 7 months now. We’ve spent more time indoors than ever, and social activities of all forms had to be modified, reduced, or eliminated for the time being.
But with everything that’s been going on this year, we could all use some holiday spirit. Or ghost!
Halloween 2020 may be very different from Halloween 2019 due to the coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun!
According to CDC Halloween guidelines, the following steps should be taken to safely celebrate this beloved holiday:
Maintain a safe trick-or-treating space
As you may come into contact with a lot of people, it is best that you wear a face mask and wash your hands before giving out any treats. Avoid making direct contact with those who stop by your house to further minimize the chances of spreading anything. It may even be a good idea to individually bag treats for the little trick-or-treaters so that they don’t have to dig around the bowl.
For those of you doing the trick-or-treating, we have a few tips for you as well! When walking around your neighborhood, try to maintain at least 6 feet between you and anyone else who does not live with you. Carry some supplies on your person while on the go, such as hand sanitizer, gloves, and other protective items.
Wear the right mask
Do not substitute your protective face mask with a costume mask. Costume masks often are not made of the right material or constructed in a way that effectively prevents entry of the coronavirus. Instead, incorporate your face mask as a part of your costume. Be scary and safe! And once your mask is on, try to avoid touching your face as face touching can increase the risk of viral infection.
It is also important that you don’t layer your costume mask over your face mask, or vice versa. This can make it harder for you to breathe and reduce the efficiency of your face mask. However, the CDC recommends that children younger than 2 years old or people who have trouble breathing avoid wearing a face mask to prevent any further breathing problems. Follow other safety precautions to ensure that you are doing your best to reduce the spread of the virus.
Watch (and wash!) your hands
Before and after leaving your house, make sure to properly wash your hands with both soap and water for no less than 20 seconds. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, getting between your fingers and under your nails. Do the same thing before you handle your children’s candy or eat some yourself.
While you are outside looking for your next trick-or-treat stop, bring along your favorite palmpalm hand sanitizer to stay clean and protected wherever you go. It’s best to use a sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol, so cover your bases with our 70% and 80% ethyl alcohol-containing products. If you are out with your little ones, monitor their usage of the hand sanitizer so that they can properly and safely protect themselves.
Fun alternatives to trick-or-treating
There are plenty of other family-friendly, fall activities you can still do to have fun this spooky season while following safety guidelines. If you’re looking for safe alternatives to trick-or-treating, check out the following ideas:
- Visit a nearby pumpkin patch
- Pumpkin carving with your loved ones
- Decorate your house with fun Halloween decorations
- Have an outdoor Halloween movie night
- Host a virtual Halloween costume contest
Many states have released their own list of recommendations and rules, so stay up to date by checking this list of Halloween safety guidelines.
Happy Halloween!