Halloween 2020 In NY: CDC Weighs In On Trick-Or-Treating

NEW YORK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a message for people who were planning to go trick-or-treating on Halloween this year: don't.

Late Monday, the CDC released guidelines about celebrating holidays during the coronavirus pandemic, including Halloween. Because of the contagious nature of the coronavirus, the CDC says that people should not take part in things like trick-or-treating, which are considered high risk.

"Avoid activities that are higher risk for spread," the CDC wrote. "Consider fun alternatives that pose lower risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19."

The CDC said that traditional Halloween activities like trick-or-treating door-to-door, having large costume parties, haunted houses, hay rides and even truck-or-treating are all high-risk activities that could spread the virus.

There are low-risk activities that families can still safely participate in, the CDC said. Top among them was pumpkin carving, which families or households can do together. And you can still decorate your house for the holiday. The CDC also suggested having a Halloween movie night with people in your home, or having a virtual costume party.

The CDC also listed some moderate-risk activities for the holiday. If you're set on having trick-or-treaters come to your house, the CDC suggested making individually-wrapped goodie bags and leaving them where families can grab them while still social distancing, like at the end of a driveway. If you do, though, the CDC said you should thoroughly wash your hands before preparing the bags.

The organization also cautioned the use of Halloween masks instead of regular face masks. A costume mask, the CDC said, will not stop the spread of the coronavirus. And you shouldn't wear a medical or cloth mask under a costume mask, because that can make it difficult to breathe. Instead, the CDC suggested wearing a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

While the CDC recommends against trick-or-treating, the organization isn't cancelling Halloween. Last week. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he would not cancel trick-or-treating in the state.

Here's how the CDC ranks Halloween activities:

Low Risk

• 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.

Moderate Risk

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard).
  • If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart.
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than six feet apart.
• A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. 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.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than six feet apart.
  • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing.
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least six feet apart.
• If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

High Risk

• 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.
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors.
• 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.
• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19.