Halloween Recommendations from TBDHU (COVID)
Halloween Guidance
Halloween traditions, including trick-or-treating, are important activities for mental and social well being, but it is important to take precautions if you choose to participate.
By following public health recommendations to protect one another and our communities, we can limit the spread of COVID-19. Although things can change between now and the end of October, many of our traditional Halloween activities can be modified in a COVID-safe way. Public health will continue to consider provincial direction and the local context of COVID-19.
General Recommendations
- Get vaccinated if you are eligible (born in 2009 or earlier). Becoming fully vaccinated is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19.
- Stay outside. Outdoor activities are generally safer and considered low risk. However, even outdoors, you can take steps to lower the risk.
- Make an informed decision about whether you and your family want to participate in trick-or-treating. If you don’t feel comfortable, there are other ways to celebrate and have fun for Halloween.
If you choose to trick-or-treat door-to-door:
- Stay home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild.
- Trick-or-treat outdoors as much as possible. Try to avoid trick-or-treating in apartment buildings/ multi-unit dwellings where you have to go inside.
- If trick-or-treating indoors, maintain physical distancing and wear a mask, especially when physical distancing is a challenge.
- Keep at least 2 metres physical distance from others outside your household.
- Be creative and build the mask into your costume, but know that a costume mask is not a substitute. A costume mask should also not be worn over a non-medical mask or face covering because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.
- Do not crowd or linger on doorsteps. Take turns one at a time and stand 2 metres apart if waiting.
- Do not sing or shout for treats.
- Keep interactions brief with those giving out treats. Respect those who are not giving out treats (no tricks!).
- Use hand sanitizer often, especially before and after handling your mask, after touching frequently touched surfaces, when you arrive home from trick-or-treating, and before and after handling or eating treats. There is no need to clean or disinfect pre-packaged treats.
Also, remember the usual Halloween safety tips, including wearing reflective items, watching for traffic, checking over the treats once home and washing your hands before eating.
If you choose to give out treats:
- Don’t hand out treats if you have symptoms, even if they are mild.
- Keep interactions with trick-or-treaters short and encourage them to move along after receiving their treat from you.
- Wear a mask when handing out candy. If you are dressing up, consider including the mask as part of your costume, but note that a costume mask is not a substitute.
- Give out only purchased and packaged treats.
- Do not ask trick-or-treaters to sing or shout for their treats.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer each time you hand out treats.
- Don’t leave treats in a bucket or bowl for everyone to grab. Consider using tongs, long spoons, or other similar tools to hand out treats, or set up a table with pre-bagged treats to keep your distance from trick-or-treaters.
If you do not wish to have trick-or-treaters approach your doorstep this Halloween, TBDHU recommends keeping your porch light off and consider printing a poster to help let your neighbours know you are not handing out treats. A Halloween Door Poster is available (click image at right or underlined text to print from PDF), or you can make your own.
Gatherings
If you choose to attend a Halloween gathering, remember the following tips:
- Get vaccinated if you are eligible (born in 2009 or earlier).
- Stay home if you are sick, even if symptoms are mild.
- Follow public health guidance like masking and physical distancing.
- Respect current gathering limits.
- Stay outside if you can.
Further guidance on getting together with others depending on vaccination status of guests can be found on the Holiday Guidance 2021 page.
As you make your plans, ask yourself how you can make the activity safer. If you are hosting, make guests aware of your expectations for a lower risk gathering.
Are you an educator looking for guidance for classroom activities? Check out the Tip Sheet for School Halloween Activities (link to PDF of image shown below).
