Here Are Some Halloween COVID-19 Safety Suggestions From Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Halloween is right around the corner and kids across Montgomery County are gearing up for a big night of candy and chocolate collecting. If you do decide to go trick-or-treating, the county has some suggestions on how to keep it as safe as possible, especially for kids who have not gotten the COVID-19 vaccine yet.

“We want kids to enjoy Halloween, but we want to be sure they are celebrating safely,” said James Bridgers, acting health officer, in a county news release. “We have to remember that for many children trick-or-treating, vaccination is not yet an option and we want them to be protected as much as possible.”

The county's suggestions are the following:

• Masks are recommended for unvaccinated children trick or treating outdoors whenever social distancing is not possible;
• Stay on the move while trick-or-treating—less congregating means more houses and more treats;
• Keep trick-or-treating groups small;
• Eat your treats at home, and/or after washing or sanitizing your hands;
• If you are handing out candy, please wear a mask while interacting with children and socially distance. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before handing out candy;
• Leave a light on or hang a Halloween sign in your window to let others know your house is participating in safe trick-or-treating;
• Outdoor activities are much safer than indoor activities;
• For indoor activities in public settings, masks are required for anyone age two and older; and
• Do not hand out candy or take part in Halloween events if you are having COVID-19 symptoms, even if you have been fully vaccinated.