Halloween with a few changes

The BC CDC has released advice on how to approach Halloween this year. It is still on, but with a few modifications and recommendations!
No matter how you celebrate Halloween this year…

1. Turn off your porch light and stay at home if you are sick or self-isolating.
2. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
3. Try including a non-medical mask or face covering as part of your costume. – Costume masks should not be worn over non-medical masks or face coverings as that may make it difficult to breathe.

Here are 5 tips to make this Halloween safe and special!

1. Celebrate less socially and trick-or-treat locally this Halloween!

• Skip Halloween parties this year
• Trick or treating in small groups can be a safe and a fun activity
• Get creative in making space when handing out treats.

2. Skip Halloween parties this year.

Leave the parties behind.

• Indoor gatherings, big or small, put people at higher risk of getting COVID-19.
• Celebrate with your favourite Halloween movie or other traditions that you can do with your household or social group.

If you host or attend a small party, keep it within your social group (Stick to six).

• You should know everyone who attends, no plus ones.
• Follow our guidelines for safer celebrations.
• Don’t pass around snacks, drinks, smokes, tokes, and vapes
• Be more outside, than inside. Keep your space well-ventilated with windows open.
• Avoid using props that can cause coughing, such as smoke machines.
• Be careful with hand sanitizer and open flames – hand sanitizer is very flammable!

3. Trick-or-treating can be done safely by following these tips:

• Respect homes by staying away if the lights are out.
• Keep to your local neighbourhood this year. Avoid trick-or-treating in busy areas or indoors (in places like malls) since there may not be enough space to distance. Indoor spaces may require a non-medical mask or face covering.
• Trick-or-treat in a small social group, stick to six people. Leave space between you and other groups to reduce crowding on stairs and sidewalks.
• Wash your hands before you go out, when you get home, and before eating treats.
  • Keep hand sanitizer with you if eating treats on the go.
  • You don’t need to clean every treat. You should instead wash your hands after handling treats and not touch your face.

4. Get creative handing out treats.

• Get creative!
  • Use tongs, a baking sheet or make a candy slide to give more space when handing out candy.
  • Plan to hand out individual treats instead of offering a shared bowl.
  • Only hand out sealed, pre-packaged treats.
• Wear a non-medical mask that covers your nose and mouth when handing out treats.
• Be more outside, than inside.
  • If you can, stand outside your door to hand out treats. Then kids won’t need to touch the door or doorbell.
  • If you’re unable to sit outside to hand out treats, clean and disinfect doorbells and knobs, handrails, and any other high touch surface often during the evening
• If you are decorating, avoid props that can cause coughing, such as smoke machines.

5. Stick to the treats – not tricks.

Image credit: Global News