Let's Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos safely!
The spookiest time of the year is just around the corner! Compared to last year, things might feel more relaxed now that mask mandates have been lifted and younger kids are able to get vaccinated.
If you plan to enjoy more traditional festivities this year, we hope you have fun! Just remember that it's still important to consider ways you can stay safe as we enter cold and flu season and as cases of COVID-19 are still being reported. It’s also a good idea to brush up on some safety reminders if you plan to trick-or-treat. Consider these tips:
If you plan to trick-or-treat...
✅ Bring a flashlight or carry glowsticks to see sidewalks, pathways, and stairs clearly to prevent injuries and falls.
✅ Trick-or-treat in neighborhoods with slower traffic and use sidewalks on busier streets.
✅ Put reflective tape on candy bags, strollers, or costumes to be more visible to drivers.
✅ Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat in groups if you don’t plan to go with them and consider talking about where they plan to trick-or-treat and set a curfew.
If you plan to host or attend a Halloween or Día de Los Muertos celebration...
✅ Test for COVID-19 and encourage others coming to your home to do the same.
✅ Stay home if you’re sick with any virus that could be contagious.
✅ Keep get togethers small and make sure there’s enough room for people to spread out.
✅ Leave out individually wrapped treats to prevent everyone from reaching into the same bowl.
✅ Get your flu vaccine and ensure you’re up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines, including your bivalent booster. Everyone ages 5 and older is eligible to receive one! Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters | CDC
If you plan to attend a Día de Los Muertos or Halloween activity or event, such as a party, corn maze, or haunted house...
✅ Bring hand sanitizer to use throughout the night.
✅ Test for COVID-19 beforehand to reduce the spread of illness.
✅ Stay home if you’re sick with any virus that could be contagious.
✅ Consider wearing a mask in more crowded, public areas where social distancing isn't possible or at activities held indoors.
Post Halloween & Día de Los Muertos Precautions:
While it's important to consider ways to limit the spread of flu and COVID-19, it's also important to find ways to limit the spread after a night of celebrating.
If you start to develop symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, headache, or fatigue in the days following Halloween and Día de Los Muertos, get tested for COVID-19 and wear a mask if you need to leave home. Getting tested can help reduce the spread of illness, keep others safe, and let you know if you need to quarantine. Find a testing site location or ways to access at-home tests at: http://ow.ly/haps50LkI8k Happy Halloween and Día de Los Muertos!