Halloween is the start of the holiday season in the United States. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a huge challenge. Enjoying the holidays while keeping safe from the novel coronavirus is a huge task.
The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has come out with guidelines to participate in the fun Halloween activities while ensuring protection against the virus.
“Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses low risk for spread. In-person gatherings pose varying levels of risk. Event organizers and attendees should consider the risk of virus spread based on event size and use of mitigation strategies, as outlined in the Considerations for Events and Gatherings” , CDC said on its website.
Other guidelines given by the CDC are:
- Location and Gathering: Indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Ensure proper ventilation, if celebrating indoor.
- Number of people: Large gatherings would pose a larger risk of contracting the disease. CDC, however, hasn’t recommended a specific number of attendees. The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees.
- Gathering with attendees who are arriving from different regions, would pose a higher risk than gatherings with attendees who live in the same area, the CDC said. In case the guests are arriving from regions of higher coronavirus caseload, it poses a greater health risk.
- Make sure the attendees adhere to social distancing norms (staying at least 6 feet apart), wear masks, wash their hands and take other precautions against COVID-19.
