CA Halloween: CDC Says Avoid Trick-Or-Treating And Costume Masks

CALIFORNIA — With just a few weeks left until Halloween, families all over California have been awaiting clear guidelines on how to celebrate the spooky holiday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has advised against traditional trick-or-treating this year.

Instead, the CDC offered an alternative method of "one-way" trick-or-treating, and suggested that individually wrapped goodie bags could be lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance. The agency added that it was still risky to participate in trick-or-treating at all and does not recommend the activity.

Other festivities listed under "moderate risk" were attending socially distanced outdoor costume parties in which attendees could remain more than 6-feet apart. Costume masks should also be avoided.

"A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask," The CDC warned. "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."

Visiting pumpkin patches or hosting an outdoor movie night with people spaced 6-feet apart were also listed as a moderate risk.

The CDC recommended that those celebrating the holiday should avoid traveling to rural fall festivals outside a household's own community. There is a high risk of spreading COVID-19 where there may have been less cases.

The agency also said households who plan on mixing with others should avoid alcohol or drugs while celebrating.

These activities were listed by the CDC as lower risk festivities:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them.
• 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.

"We’re really urging people to be prepared for a different type of Halloween," said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services Secretary last week. "Trick-or-treating and the type of mixing that comes with Halloween festivities is really not advised under COVID-19."

The CDPH told Patch Tuesday that they do not have a release date for when the state will release its official guidelines. But Ghaly told reporters last week that guidelines were in the works.

These activities were listed as high risk and should be avoided:

• 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.
• 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
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors.
• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19.

In the meantime, counties were able to enforce their own restrictions on the holiday.

Ghaly previously applauded Los Angeles County for its Halloween trick-or-treating ban. But the county scaled it back to a recommendation the next day.

"Our guidelines have been slightly revised, so we'd ask that people go back and look at them to distinguish between those activities that are not permitted by the health officer order — that includes events, gatherings parties — those are just not allowed," Barbara Ferrer, the county's public health director said. "They're not allowed for anything. ... The only activities you can have a party or gathering for are with those people that are in your household."

Although the county canceled the ban on trick-or-treating, Ferrer said that it really shouldn't happen.

READ MORE: LA County Backs Off On Trick-Or-Treating Ban

While California is still working on its guidelines for Halloween, officials have advised families to brace for a socially distanced halloween.

Although California's COVID-19 3 percent positivity rate has hit a record low since the state began recording case data in late March, officials are still urging residents to keep up the momentum.

"I'm really encouraging my own kids, who are asking 'can I start planning my costume, I really want to make them this year,' to do all of those things," Ghaly said. "I do think some of the preparation can look very much the same."