JIC RELEASE NO. 820 - DPHSS Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Halloween and for All Souls Day

On October 13, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued COVID-19 Guidance for Halloween and COVID-19 Guidance for All Souls Day:
 

COVID-19 Guidance for a Safe Halloween
In preparation for Halloween this year, DPHSS reiterates that limitations on congregations provided in DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2021-24, relative to Amendments and Further Clarification on Vaccination Requirements and Social Gathering Restrictions Relative to Executive Orders No. 2021-20 and 2021-21 remain in full effect, and the following requirements shall be enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Face masks that cover both the nose and mouth must be worn at all times.
• Individuals who are twelve (12) years plus one (1) month of age and older must be vaccinated to participate in congregations and social gatherings, such as Halloween and/or costume parties, haunted houses, and other similar activities.
• Congregations and social gatherings are limited to no more than ten (10) vaccinated individuals for indoors or twenty-five (25) vaccinated individuals for outdoors. This includes children below 12 years plus one (1) month of age.
• Intermingling with other groups is prohibited.

DPHSS strongly encourages safer alternatives for enjoying Halloween such as:

• Individuals from the same household having indoor trick-or-treat activities, decorating and carving pumpkins, and putting up Halloween decorations inside and/or outside the home;
• Admiring Halloween decorations in the neighborhood at a distance;
• Reading classic Halloween stories or watching Halloween-themed movies or shows at home;
• Participating in safe curbside trick-or-treating events sponsored by responsible businesses;
• Holding a drive-by car-decorating contest with judges who are physically distanced; 
• Having reverse trick-or-treat by dropping small gift bags of commercially packaged candy on neighbor’s porch instead; and/or
• Conducting a virtual Halloween costume contest so everyone can show off their costume.

In the event individuals choose to participate in traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, DPHSS provides requirements below for all individuals involved.

• General Guidance

• Households with any individual who is experiencing flu-like symptoms or COVID-19-like symptoms, or is under quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19, are prohibited from participating in social gatherings or any trick-or-treating activities, including distribution of treats.

• Trick-or-treat only with members of the same household. 

• Face masks/coverings must be worn by all individuals involved in trick-or-treating, with the exception of children under two (2) years of age.

• All individuals participating in any trick-or-treating activities are advised to properly wash hands before handling treats.

• Refrain from eating treats and candies while trick-or-treating to minimize the removal of face masks.

• Consider individuals in the household who may be at greater risk of complications if COVID-19 is brought into the home, such as those with certain health conditions, women who are pregnant, or older family members.  

• Guidance for Individuals/Households Distributing Treats

• Wash hands properly before handling treats.

• Wear a face mask at all times.

• Avoid direct contact with other trick-or-treaters and maintain social distancing of at least six (6) feet from other groups.

• Treats should only be distributed outdoors.

• Use store-bought treats that are individually plastic-wrapped.

• Adults should be the individuals distributing treats while wearing a face mask and gloves. 

• It is highly encouraged to use tongs, a spoon, or a tray to distribute treats. Children should not be allowed to retrieve their treats from a bowl or bag.

• It is highly encouraged to practice safer, socially distant ways to conduct door-to-door trick-or-treating and distributing treats:

  • Set up a table/station outside with individually bagged treats spaced apart for trick-or-treaters to take.

  • Use a candy slide made of PVC pipe, or hanging treats from a wall or fence.

• Guidance for Parents/Guardians/Adults Responsible for Underage Trick-or-Treaters and for Trick-or-Treaters

  • Parents/Guardians should talk with their children about safety precautions and physical distancing in preparation for trick-or-treating. 

  • If your child is at greater risk of complications from COVID-19, contact your doctor before allowing participation in Halloween activities.

  • Wear a face mask.

    • Highly encourage to make face masks a part of Halloween costumes.

    • A costume mask is NOT a substitute for a face mask.

    • Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask as it may make breathing more difficult.

  • Practice social distancing.

    • Stay at least six (6) feet away from others who do not live in the same household.

    • Individuals are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when in close contact with others for a long period of time. 

  • Wash your hands.

    • Bring hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) with you and use it after touching objects or other individuals.

    • Parents/Guardians: supervise young children using hand sanitizers.

    • Wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds when you get home and before you consume any treats.

  • Upon completion of trick-or-treating, the following are highly advised:

    • Candy collected during trick-or-treating should not be consumed until after handwashing.

    • Allow children to eat only factory-wrapped treats.  Avoid homemade treats made by strangers.

    • As always, parents/guardians should check all treats to make sure they are properly wrapped and should discard treats with broken or unsealed wrappers.

• Guidance for Business Operators Distributing Treats

  • Businesses are strongly discouraged from holding in-person/walk-through trick-or-treat events in an enclosed, indoor area, or an in-person, non-curbside, outdoor area. 

  • Outdoor, drive-up, and curbside distribution of treats is encouraged.

    • For Employees Distributing Treats:

      • No more than twenty-five (25) vaccinated employees may participate in the distribution of treats.

      • Face masks are required to be worn by employees distributing treats.

      • Hands must be washed by employees with soap for a minimum of twenty (20) seconds or with hand sanitizer (with 60% or more alcohol) before handling treats.  Use hand sanitizers between servicing trick-or-treating vehicle.

      • It is highly encouraged to use tongs, a spoon, or a tray to distribute treats.  Children should not be allowed to retrieve their treats from a bowl or bag.

    • For Individuals Receiving Treats:

      • Individuals must remain in their vehicles.

      • Turn off any mechanical ventilation (i.e., fan and air conditioning) of the vehicle before driving up to receive treats.

      • Face masks must be worn by all individuals in the vehicle while receiving treats. 

  • Applicable DPHSS guidance memoranda and minimum requirements must be followed, including, but not limited to, the following:

    • Do not allow any congregation of individuals in the parking lot and other areas on the premises.  Eliminate all common seating, lounge, or play areas where children and others might congregate.

    • Have hand sanitizers readily available to all customers.

DPHSS encourages everyone to get fully vaccinated and obtain their booster shot, if qualified to receive one. For further questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 671-300-9579 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or email, [email protected]. 

COVID-19 Guidance for a Safe All Souls Day

As the community celebrates All Souls Day this year, DPHSS reiterates that limitations on congregations provided in DPHSS Guidance Memorandum 2021-24 relative Amendments and Further Clarification on Vaccination Requirements and Social Gathering Restrictions Relative to Executive Orders No. 2021-20 and 2021-21 remain in full effect, and the following requirements shall be enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Face masks that cover both the nose and mouth must be worn at all times.
• Individuals who are twelve (12) years plus one (1) month of age and older must be vaccinated to participate in congregations and social gatherings.
• Congregations and social gatherings are limited to no more than ten (10) vaccinated individuals for indoors or twenty-five (25) vaccinated individuals for outdoors.  This includes children below 12 years plus one (1) month of age.
• Intermingling with other groups is prohibited.

DPHSS highly encourages the following safer alternatives for All Souls Day:

• Spend time with individuals of the same household or celebrate virtually.
• Consider placing and creating an altar in a front window or outside so others can view from a safe social distance. 
• Stagger visits to loved ones’ gravesites to minimize gatherings.  
• Create a virtual space to honor lost loved ones.  Share with family and friends via email or social media.
• Do not attend celebrations or participate in activities if you feel sick, have flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms.

DPHSS encourages everyone to get fully vaccinated and obtain their booster shot, if qualified to receive one.  For further questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 671-300-9579 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or email, [email protected].