FAIRFIELD – Chief Christopher Lyddy and the Fairfield Police Department would like to share safety tips for trick-or-treating and alternative Halloween activities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Residents are discouraged from participating in large gatherings, indoor parties or trunk-or-treat type of events where there would be close contact with people who do not live in the same household,” Chief Lyddy said. “However, there are a number of lower-risk Halloween activities that residents can participate in this year to stay safe and healthy. As a reminder, please continue to wear a mask, practice proper hygiene and follow social distancing guidelines as you celebrate Halloween.”
Consistent with the Halloween activity guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Fairfield Police Department recommends following several safety and health tips to help limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19 while celebrating Halloween this year.
Trick-or-treating guidelines:
- Trick-or-treat in small groups, preferably with family members.
- Keep 6 feet of distance between trick-or-treaters.
- Have a talk about family rules to follow when trick-or-treating. In addition to COVID-19 safety guidance, do not forget to bring a flashlight and use caution when walking around.
- Wear a face mask or face covering. Face coverings must cover your mouth and nose.
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a face mask or face covering. Wearing a costume mask over a cloth mask is not recommended as it may be difficult to breath causing dangerous conditions.
- Observe good hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol. Carry hand sanitizer and use it often.
- Work to reduce the amount of time you spend at any one location.
- Do not share Halloween props.
- Do not go inside anyone’s home or apartment.
- Stay home and refrain from Halloween activities, including handing out Halloween treats, if you feel unwell, you have tested positive for COVID-19 or you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Let candy or goodies sit for 24 hours prior to opening.
Make your home safe for trick-or-treaters:
- Instead of traditional trick-or-treating, opt for one-way trick-or-treating, with treats placed outside of the home for trick-or-treaters as a “grab-and-go” while keeping distance from others.
- If you do open your door, wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet. Alternatively, you can wave at the trick-or-treaters through your window.
- Those who do not wish to participate in trick-or-treat are asked to shut off their outdoor lights as an indicator.
Additionally, the Fairfield Police Department would like to share the CDC lists of several low and moderate risk alternative activities that community members can take part in for Halloween.
- Lower risk activities include:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household, or doing so outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorate your home/living space
- Do a Halloween scavenger hunt, virtual Halloween costume contest, or Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Moderate risk activities include:
- 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
- Visit an open-air, one-way, walk through haunted forest with a mask and where people can remain 6 feet apart
- Visit pumpkin patches or orchards wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and maintaining social distancing
- Have an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends while maintaining social distancing
Residents are encouraged to avoid higher risk activities, such as indoor haunted houses or costume parties; hayrides or tractor rides with those outside of your household; or having trunk-or-treats where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots.
More information and holiday safety tips from the CDC can be found here.
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