Halloween is going to be a lot different in 2020. And not just because of the blue moon. Rather, it’s happening during an already frightening time when a pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, and the threat of the virus remains real.
The Deseret News has been reporting on how to participate in Halloween this year safely. We’ve rounded up a number of our stories to help answer your primate questions below.
Read more about Halloween 2020. If you have more questions, let us know and we can do our best to answer them.
Will people go trick-or-treating?
A new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found that most Utahns think children should go trick-or-treating in 2020. However, most believe that more precautions should be taken with the pandemic.
- 33% said Utahns should trick-or-treat like normal
- 37% said children should trick-or-treat with precautions.
Should you go trick-or-treating with the recent COVID-19 spike?
You may want to avoid a traditional Halloween this year with the recent COVID-19 spike in Utah, according to the Deseret News’ editorial board. The pandemic is already scary enough, after all.
- “Halloween is scary enough on its own. The people of Utah need to modify their plans this year to make sure it doesn’t go from a make-believe type of scary to one that invites long-term health problems or death.”
What costumes should you wear?
- Halloween masks don’t protect people from COVID-19, so you may want to consider a different type of mask for 2020. Trick-or-treaters should still consider 6 feet for social distancing and avoid staying at one house for more than a few minutes, according to the Deseret News. Hand sanitizer is a must, too.
Should you give out candy?
Utah Department of Health said people should “avoid direct contact with trick-or-treaters, give out treats outdoors if possible, set up a station with individually bagged treats for kids to take, wash hands before handling treats, wear a mask, consider setting up a system to get candy to trick-or-treaters without any physical contact, and not give out anything homemade,” according to the Deseret News.
How do you celebrate during a pandemic?
Utah Department of Health told the Deseret News you should celebrate virtually or with people within your home and avoid any other type of gathering.
- “We don’t recommend having a Halloween party with people who don’t live in your home. If you want to have a Halloween party, keep it small and invite only immediate family members,” the department said. “You can lower the risk and make a Halloween party safer by taking precautions and using strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
What can you do on Halloween?
- Utah Department of Health said people should consider “having parties outside, keeping face coverings on as much as possible, asking everyone to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when they get there, staying at least 6 feet away from other families while eating or drinking, not attending parties where people aren’t wearing face coverings, avoiding buffet-style eating, and choosing games or activities that can be done with masks on, according to the recommendations,” according to the Deseret News.
Should you go out for Halloween?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued some guidelines for Halloween festivities:
- The CDC said: “Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.”
Where can you find Halloween deals?
There are plenty of places to find freebies, specials and deals for Halloween this year, too, including Chipotle, Krispy Kreme and more. Visit our full list for more information.
Where are the Halloween events?
There are plenty of Halloween events in Utah during the pandemic, including BooLights at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, family-friendly outdoor movies at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, a scarecrow festival at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, and many more. Visit our full list.
Is Halloween more important than the election?
How you handle Halloween may be more important than how you handle the election. But Halloween is an adaptable holiday. There’s not one event that you need to do. Things can always change, as Jay Evensen wrote for the Deseret News.
- Lisa Morton, author of “Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween,” told the Deseret News: “Halloween is very adaptable. It came through 9/11 just fine, despite dire predictions about it that year, and I believe it will survive 2020, although I also hope parents will consider adapting this year to keep their families and friends as safe as possible.”
What’s Utah’s favorite Halloween candy?
- A new map identified each state’s favorite candy. The map said Utah was the only state that preferred Three Musketeers over any other candy.