The CDC Has Officially Advised Against Traditional Trick-or-Treating in Light of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Getty / Rebecca Nelson
As the novel coronavirus continues to loom across the country and world, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made their official recommendation around celebration Halloween this year. In order to help curb the spread of COVID-19, the CDC is discouraging traditional trick-or-treating, as well as a few other traditional holiday events, for 2020. According to ABC, the CDC stated that "many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses."
In addition to door-to-door trick-or-treating, the national public health institute listed trunk-or-treat events with treats handed out to large groups from trunks of cars, indoor costume parties, indoor haunted houses, hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household, and attending fall festivals outside of your community as high-risk activities to avoid this Halloween season.
Related: How to Host a Socially Distanced Halloween Party
But that doesn't mean there aren't ways to get in the festive spirit. The CDC also shared a list of activities that are safer to participate in with children and adults alike. Low-risk activities include carving or decorating pumpkins with your family; carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors and friends; decorating your home for the season; a Halloween scavenger hunt where children find holiday-themed items while walking outdoors from house-to-house; Halloween movie night with your family; and a Halloween scavenger hunt style trick-or-treat search, where your household searches around you home for treats.
The CDC put their list of low- to high-risk activities out to inspire families to find alternative ways to participate in Halloween activities and stay healthy while celebrating. But the institute did also note that its guidelines do not replace those on a local or state level, and people should follow mandates in their communities. For more information on activities to participate in for the season, visit the CDC.
