Warren County Health Services
Guidance for Halloween
TRICK-OR-TREATERS
We ask that you please avoid conventional door-to-door trick or treating, and consider safer alternatives, such as a neighborhood drive-up event.
If you decide you or your family want to take your child door-to-door, please:
- Stay home if sick.
- Trick-or-treat with people from your household only.
- Stay in your neighborhood, and avoid traveling to other neighborhoods or communities to trick-or-treat
- Remain 6 feet apart from people who are not from your household.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wear a face covering for BOTH your mouth and nose (even under your Halloween mask if it does not cover both).
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then wash your hands.
- Hand sanitize (with sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) frequently while out and about, especially during key times such as before eating.
- Wash your hands when returning home and before you enjoy your treats. This includes washing after candy is unwrapped.
HOMEOWNERS
- Consider leaving out individually bagged, separated treats on a table for self-service, or turn off your lights, if you are not comfortable handing out candy.
- Do not hand out candy if you are sick.
- Consider leaving individually wrapped packets of candy on a table on your porch or driveway, to lessen interaction.
- Wear a face covering over BOTH your mouth and nose if you choose to interact with trick-or-treaters.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- If participating in handing out candy from your front door, consider the following:
o Mark 6-foot lines in front of your home with chalk or tape, and leading to driveway/front door, to encourage social distancing.
o Position a distribution table between yourself and trick or treaters.
PARENTS
- Stay home if sick, and dissuade anyone in the home from going out if there is an ill person in the home.
- Try to encourage neighbors to participate in alternative trick-or-treating, such as a drive by “trunk or treat” or car parade.
- Talk with your children about safety and social distancing guidelines and expectations.
- Guide children to stay on the right side of the road to ensure social distance.
- Wear a face covering over BOTH your mouth and nose.
- Wash your hands as soon as you return home.
- Require that your children to unwrap candy, throw out the wrapper, and wash their hands before eating it.
More Halloween guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control can be found at this link.
Please call Warren County Health Services at 518-761-6580 if you have additional questions.