The Milwaukee Heath Department wants everyone to have a safe "Reimagined" Halloween
We don’t want to take away the fun and excitement from Halloween. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many traditional Halloween activities, including Trick or Treating, are considered to be high-risk for spreading COVID -19. There are several safe and alternative ways to take part in Halloween.
Like most things, Halloween is going to be different, but with a little creativity, we CAN have a
"Reimagined" Halloween
Boo! Now that we have your attention…Let’s talk about how to celebrate safely. Let’s make it fun and safe!
No matter how you decide to celebrate, please follow these guidelines:
1. If you have any COVID symptoms, please stay home.
2. Don’t wear two masks. 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.
3. Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer.
4. Maintain social distancing.
5. Keep activities outside as much as possible.
Lower Risk Activities and Safe Alternatives:
• 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.
• With so many fun decorations throughout the city, get in a car and play Halloween I-Spy with members of your household.
Moderate Risk Activities
• 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).
• 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 6 feet apart.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 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 6 feet apart.
If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.
Higher Risk Activities
Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
• 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.
• 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.
Credits:
Created with images by David Menidrey - "Pumpkin Twins" • Conner Baker - "Squad" • Hello I'm Nik 🎞 - "Halloweeeeeen 2019" • Bee Felten-Leidel - "untitled image" • Jen Theodore - "untitled image" • Eric Deeran - "Over watch" • Paige Cody - "Little Witch" • NeONBRAND - "untitled image" • Jayson Hinrichsen - "untitled image" • Bee Felten-Leidel - "witchy Halloween scene" • Nicole Edelbrock - "Happy Jack"