Tips for Celebrating halloween & Día de Los Muertos Safely During COVID-19
Local and State Health Officer Orders are still in effect. Halloween gatherings, Día de los Muertos celebrations, events or parties with non-household members are not permitted unless they are conducted in compliance with local and State Health Orders. Refer to the Alameda County social distancing guidelines for more information.
Many commonly celebrated Halloween and Día de Los Muertos activities carry high risk for spreading COVID-19. Here are some tips and tricks to help you celebrate safely.
Trick-or-treating and parties are high-risk activities because mixing among people who don’t live in the same home introduces more opportunities for the virus to pass from one person to another. Instead, focus on decorations, limiting activities to the people you live with. Host a virtual costume party or contest and help keep our communities safe this season, especially our children.
Additional guidance for staying safe:
- Stay home if you feel sick or have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
- Wear a face covering whenever you leave home.
- Keep your distance from others (even relatives) who don’t live in your household.
- Being outside is safer than being inside, especially in combination with face covering and keeping your distance.
- Consider using a themed cloth mask, as a costume mask is not a substitute.
- Avoid wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.
A full list of low, moderate, high and very high risk activities can be found here in a joint statement from Bay Area health officials. You can also download the information in Spanish.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also released guidance for trick-or-treating and other Halloween activities. Visit their website for more information or download one of the handouts below:
