The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for how Americans should handle Halloween this year. And that’s good news, according to the National Confectioners Association.
John Downs, the president and CEO of the NCA, said the CDC’s guidelines offer a path for a fun Halloween:
- “The CDC’s guidance reinforces that Halloween is happening and provides inspiration for creative and safe approaches to celebrating the holiday throughout the month of October. There’s no question that Halloween will look different this year, and innovative approaches endorsed by CDC like outdoor trick-or-treating can bring a little fun to the fall.”
Dr. Stephen Ostroff, a former CDC and FDA official, said the holiday can still happen during the pandemic.
- “Halloween is traditionally an outdoor holiday and the one time of the year when kids want to wear a mask. This is fully consistent with the CDC safety guidelines, and with the appropriate physical distancing, trick-or-treating can safely happen. Whether this means employing a creative “one-way” solution or finding another way to show off costumes, this type of activity can easily take place this October with little risk of COVID-19 transmission.”
According to the NCA, 80% of people will find safe ways to celebrate Halloween this year.
CDC guidelines on Halloween
The CDCreleased its first set of guidelines for Halloween, saying people should avoid going door to door for trick-or-teating. Costume masks aren’t recommended either.
- 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.”