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Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/DigitalVision via Getty Images
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/DigitalVision via Getty Images
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we dine at restaurants, shop for groceries and interact with loved ones. But it won’t break the fall spirit that comes when Halloween is around the corner. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are some activities that can act as a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. This comprehensive list ranks Halloween activities by how risky they are: low, moderate or high.
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There are plenty of safe, kid-friendly activities to do outdoors for Halloween during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the CDC, the following activities put you and your loved ones at low risk for contracting the virus.
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The CDC considers pumpkin carving a low-risk activity. You can carve them with the members of your household, or while social distancing outside with friends and neighbors. If this is your Halloween activity of choice, check our best pumpkin carving tips first.
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Revamping your living space is always fun, but decorating it with pumpkins, fall-scented candles and more spooky stuff is one of the best ways to kick off Halloween. Plus, it’s considered a low-risk activity by the CDC.
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According to the CDC, having a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt is a low-risk activity as long as children are able to adequately social distance. The agency recommends letting kids walk from house to house to admire Halloween decorations and search for things on their list.
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If you want to be on the safe side, the CDC recommends trick-or-treating in your own home, which could be done scavenger-hunt style. Search your home for your favorite Halloween candy with the members of your household.
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Video chatting with friends and family is a great way to stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic, especially during the holidays. This All Hallows Eve, dress up as your favorite ghouls and goblins and schedule a virtual Halloween costume contest with your loved ones.
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What Halloween would be complete without spooky movies filled with all things witches and warlocks? This year, round up your favorite snacks and watch some of the best Halloween movies of all time with the members of your household. The CDC says it’s a low-risk activity.
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While most low-risk activities involve staying with members of your household for Halloween, the following activities open things up a bit. According to the CDC, these activities will put you at moderate risk for contracting the virus.
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If your neighborhood wants to trick-or-treat this year, the CDC says that placing individually wrapped goodie bags for kids to take as a grab-and-go option will put you at moderate risk. Social distancing should be maintained and, if you’re preparing the goodie bags, you should wash your hands before and after doing so.
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Having a small outdoor costume parade where social distancing is maintained will put you at a moderate risk of contracting the virus, according to the CDC. The CDC notes that wearing a costume mask does not replace a cloth mask unless it has two layers of breathable fabric and covers the mouth and nose without any gaps.
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There are plenty of haunted places you can actually visit this Halloween, like haunted forests, which the CDC considers a moderate risk. People attending haunted forests should wear masks and remain more than 6 feet apart. The CDC notes that if screaming will likely occur, keeping a further distance is recommended.
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If you’re visiting your favorite pumpkin patches or apple orchards this Halloween, it’s considered a moderate risk as long as people are using hand sanitizer, wearing face masks and social distancing.
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Another alternative to traditional trick-or-treating is to have an outdoor Halloween movie night with local friends. This is considered a moderate risk by the CDC as long as people maintain 6 feet of distance. Like with the haunted forest, if screaming occurs, guests should be farther apart.
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According to the CDC, you should avoid these activities this Halloween to mitigate the risk of spreading coronavirus.
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Although it may be tempting to visit places with beautiful fall foliage for a festival or more fun activities, the CDC recommends against visiting rural areas in your state if you live in an area with community spread.
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Trunk-or-treating — where Halloween candy is handed out from the trunks of cars — is considered a high-risk activity by the CDC.
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The CDC also considers traditional trick-or-treating, where kids ring doorbells and are handed candy from neighbors and strangers, to be a high-risk activity this year. Alternatively, try making some of these spooky Halloween dishes with your kids instead.
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While virtual costume parties aren’t considered dangerous, a crowded costume party will put you at high risk for contracting the coronavirus, according to the CDC. There are still plenty of ways to get into the Halloween spirit, like by making one of these delicious pumpkin recipes.
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Visiting an indoor haunted house, where people could be crowded together and yelling, is considered a high risk by the CDC. Instead, get your spooky fix by visiting one of these cool abandoned churches.
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Going on a hayride or tractor ride is a classic activity when visiting your favorite apple orchard. But, unless you’re riding with just the people in your household, this is considered a high-risk activity.
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The CDC also considers engaging with drugs or alcohol during Halloween to be a high-risk activity, as it can cloud judgment. And while this list might seem like a bummer to our spook-obsessed readers, Halloween isn’t a completely lost cause. Experts weighed in on some social distancing trick-or-treat ideas for a safer Halloween.
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