Burlington County Advises Precautions For Halloween Amid Pandemic

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Burlington County officials are advising residents to take safety precautions and avoid unsafe activities this Halloween amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Burlington County Health Department warns that traditional Halloween activities can contribute to the spread of the coronavirus and the flu.

Residents who participate in trick-or-treating or other Halloween activities with people outside their household should make sure to wear a mask and maintain a social distance as much as possible.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Cloth masks can be part of costumes, but a costume mask should not be considered as substitute for a cloth mask. Also, residents should avoid wearing a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can make breathing more difficult.

Residents should remember to keep a safe distance from anyone they don’t live with; wash their hands frequently; and wear a mask. To make things safer for trick-or-treaters, avoid direct contact and give individually bagged treats away outdoors if possible.

“Although stores have reopened and many activities have resumed, we have to remember that COVID-19 continues to circulate widely within our community,” Burlington County Health Director, Dr. Herb Conaway said. “It’s important that we continue to wear masks, stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you both indoors and outdoors, and wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.”

According to the most recent case count, there have been 8,986 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Burlington County with 489 confirmed deaths and 54 probable deaths.

In addition to wearing masks, it’s important that people also properly dispose of them. Stores and public buildings are still reporting masks are being discarded in their parking lots. Residents are asked to throw their used masks in a trash can.

Residents should also remember that masks are required to enter all retail establishments, county government offices and county libraries. Those without masks may be turned away.

Although business owners and administrators may provide masks for residents who do not have one, it can reduce the number of masks that businesses have available for their employees.

Since testing is an important part of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, county officials provide convenient access to coronavirus testing through the COVID Testing Site- Rowan College at Burlington County-Mt. Laurel Campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 900 College Circle, Lot 9. Registration will be done on-site. The test offered at this location is a saliva test. Residents shouldn’t eat, drink, smoke, vape or chew gum for 45 minutes prior to testing.

There are also mobile testing sites throughout the county. Visit http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/health for a list of dates and locations.

At-home COVID Test Kits (Saliva Test) are available to Burlington County residents (6 years or older) and individuals working in the Burlington County area. Residents will be required to provide proof of residency or employment. After eligibility is verified, they will be emailed a testing code number and a link to Vault’s webpage to request a county-funded test kit. To register, visit http://www.homecovidtest.org. Test results are expected to be returned within 72 hours. Any questions can be directed to HomeTesting@co.burlington.nj.us.