When you think of Halloween, Trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, and haunted houses most likely come to mind. This Halloween, however, will likely look much different than the years preceding it. As with many other holidays and events this year, it seems that due to the ever-present threat of Covid looming over the Nation we will have to re-evaluate how we traditionally celebrate the holiday and make adjustments this Fall in order to adapt to the current state of the world. So, what exactly will Halloween look like this year in our post-covid world? What must we all change about our standard Halloween operations to ensure everyone’s safety?

On the topic of trick-or-treating, it seems there are many conflicting opinions on how best to handle the delicate situation. In Los Angeles, a ban on door-to-door or car-to-car trick-or-treating has been issued, as well as a ban on Halloween parties, carnivals, and haunted houses. After receiving criticism for this decision, the statement was then altered a day later to state that trick-or-treating will be “strongly advised against” instead of being flat out banned. Many locations have yet to issue any official statements on the matter, but it is assumed that all standard guidelines issued by the CDC will be reinforced and emphasized. Wearing masks and social distancing (six feet apart) will be strongly recommended to all trick-or-treaters, and it is also advised to trick-or-treat with a smaller group of people rather than a large amount. If you prefer to stay at home and not take the risk of venturing outside to trick-or-treat, you can invest in lower-risk activities from the comfort of your own home, such as carving pumpkins or having a Halloween movie binge. If you aren’t sure of the Covid risk levels for your county, the CDC has released a color-coded map displaying risk levels on both state and county-wide levels. In orange zones, which includes Fairfax County as indicated by the color-coded map, it’s suggested for families to stay especially cautious this Halloween. When it comes to Halloween parties with large groups of people, they will likely be more closely monitored than trick-or-treating and possibly shut down, so it’s best to steer clear of them altogether.

Besides packed Halloween parties, some other common Halloween and/or Fall activities are also being strongly advised against this year. Bobbing for apples, for example, isn’t considered a good idea due to being unsanitary and spreading germs. Handing out homemade goods to people this year is also seen as a no-no, and experts recommend leaving individually packaged sweets/candy on your doorstep for children to take instead of handing out homemade foods in order to limit contact.