Traditional Trick-Or-Treating Not Recommended By Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County government and the health department will recommend against traditional trick-or-treating but will not cancel it altogether. The county's guidance is in line with the Centers for Disease Control recommendations for Halloween and other fall activities.

"While Fairfax County cannot ‘cancel’ trick-or-treating, we do hope our residents will continue to prioritize safety just as we have all year," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay in a statement. "There are simple solutions to continue to enjoy the scares of the holiday — remember to wear a mask that matches your costume, social distance and have small Halloween activities outside."

Activities classified as higher-risk by the county include trick-or-treating where children go door to door and collect candy. An alternative that is considered moderate risk but safer than traditional trick-or-treat is one-way trick-or-treating with individually wrapped goodie bags with families practicing social distancing. Residents are asked to consider lining up bags at the end of their driveways or yards.

Since Fairfax County does not set trick-or-treat hours, it typically happens on the evening of Oct. 31. According to Patch's informal survey of more than 500 Virginia readers, 46.9 percent say their kids will not trick-or-treat, 36.3 percent say they will, and 16.8 percent are unsure.

Events involving large gatherings are also not recommended by the county. Other activities classified as higher risk are trunk-or-treat with items handed out from trunks of cars where social distancing cannot be maintained, crowded indoor costume parties, indoor haunted houses with crowding and screaming, and hayrides with people not in the same household.

"Some Halloween activities pose higher risk than others," said Fairfax Health Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu in a statement. "In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.

For people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, Addo-Ayensu recommends celebrating Halloween through virtual means or with people in the same household.

Activities considered to have moderate risk are small, outdoor costume parades with social distancing; outdoor costume party with masks and social distancing; outside events like trunk-or-treat with social distancing and masks; one-way outdoors haunted forest with masks and social distancing; pumpkin patches or apple picking with hand sanitizer use, masks and social distancing; and outdoor Halloween movie night with local families and friends practicing social distancing.

Low-risk activities include carving or decorating pumpkins with the same household or others at a safe distance, decorating a residence, outdoor Halloween scavenger hunts going house to house at a distance, virtual costume contests or parties, and Halloween movie nights with the same household.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, has tested positive, is awaiting test results or has been in contact with a positive case within 14 days is urged to avoid in-person Halloween activities. For those handing out treats, handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is recommended before and after preparing bags.

For those participating in Halloween activities, maintaining six feet of distance is recommended. Health officials say activities with screaming increases the production of respiratory droplets, therefore increasing the risk for spreading COVID-19. Costume masks should not be considered a substitute for a face mask unless it has two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose without gaps. Wearing a costume mask over a face mask is not recommended if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.

In preparation for fall and winter holidays associated with gatherings, crowded parties and travel, the CDC has also released general guidance.