NEW YORK - Halloween is here! But this year, families are worried about more than whether they purchased enough candy for trick-or-treaters. Keeping the tradition of neighborhood children dressing up in costumes and knocking on doors for candy is important to families across the country. But here in the city, there’s a lot you need to know about how to celebrate safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, Mayor Bill de Blasio released safety guidelines for New Yorkers.
Here's what you need to know:
Is it safe to trick-or-treat in apartment buildings?
Trick-or-treating in apartment buildings is the way many kids in the city get their candy, but this year the mayor recommends that trick-or-treating be done outdoors, and not inside. Indoor celebrations are not recommended by the city either.
How should I hand out candy?
If you can, avoid handing out candy. Instead, put treats in a bowl or bin and place it outside your door. For those trick-or-treating, if candy isn’t left outside, after you ring a doorbell, step back six feet.
If you do choose to interact with trick-or-treaters, post a sign on the door or window asking visitors to keep their distance. Set up a station where social distancing can be easily maintained. Wash hands and use hand sanitizer before and after touching the station, bowl, or candy.
“Do not allow people to put their hands in a bag or bowl that you are holding,” the city guidelines suggest.
Do I need to wear a face covering? What about wearing a costume mask?
Yes, you need to wear a face covering, and costume masks don’t count. City health experts say that masks sold with costumes, like monsters or aliens, “generally have holes for breathing that make them ineffective at stopping COVID-19 transmission.”
Since it's difficult to tell if your costume mask is safe or not, you still need to wear a proper covering over whatever you decide to put on your face. But just think, here's your chance to jazz up a cloth mask to match your costume, and maybe keep wearing it long after Halloween has passed.
“Do not wear a face covering under your costume mask as it may be hard to breath,” according to the City’s safety guidelines.
What if my family doesn’t feel safe trick-or-treating during the pandemic?
There are many other ways that health officials recommend New Yorkers celebrate the holiday, including walking through your neighborhood and viewing Halloween decorations, pumpkin carving, watching a Halloween movie, hosting or attending a virtual party with a costume contest, and participating in a candy scavenger hunt outdoors in a park with enough space for social distancing.
How can I make sure the treats my children get from our neighbors are safe to eat?
We know you want to dig right into your bag and devour your favorite candies, but health experts suggest you wait until you get home and properly wash your hands. The city's guidelines also recommend wiping down wrappers, or letting your stash of sweets sit for a couple of days untouched.
“As always, inspect candy to make sure it has not been tampered with, limit the amount of candy you and your kids eat, and brush your teeth after eating sweets,” the city reminds New Yorkers.
Activities that the city says you “definitely should not do”:
Participate in apple bobbing competitions (we can't imagine doing this during normal times!), attend Halloween parties, gather in large groups, or attend a haunted house. That being said, haunted houses are open with restrictions across the city and state.
Additional safety measures New Yorkers are asked to follow:
No matter how you celebrate this year, the city is asking New Yorkers to always practice common sense best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Stay home if sick: Celebrate at home, especially if you or your children aren’t feeling well, tested positive for COVID-19, have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or were recently in a state or country with a high level of COVID-19. Physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet from others. Do not attend large gatherings, especially indoors. Wear a face covering: Protect those around you. You can have COVID-19 and not know it. Everyone needs to wear a face covering, even ghosts and goblins! Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and cover your coughs and sneezes.”
For more information on trick-or-treating guidelines, visit nyc.gov/health/halloween