POMEROY–– Recommendations for Halloween celebrations and how to identify those locales following the suggested safety measures have been issued by the Washington State Department of Health (WADOH), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Garfield County Health District (GCHD).

All three agencies continue to recommend the use of cloth face covering, one that fits snugly over the nose and mouth; avoid confined spaces, outdoor activities are safer; avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces; avoid close contact with people outside of your household by staying at least six feet apart; wash or sanitize your hands often; and stay home if you are sick or have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.

They also discourage the traditional house-to-house trick-or-treating that includes handing candy to kids at the door and large groups of people moving together around the neighborhood. Gatherings, events or parties with non-household members violate the Governor's gathering limitations in his Safe Start Plan.

An alternative trick-or-treat activity called "trunk-or-treat" gatherings, where cars line up in a large parking lot and hand out candy, also violate those gathering limitations, as well as indoor haunted houses. Other activities considered to be high-risk are indoor trick-or-treating such as in shopping malls, going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household, using alcohol or drugs that can increase risky behaviors, and traveling to events that are outside of your own community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19.

The agencies have suggested some alternate low-risk activities to consider. Have a scavenger hunt at home, inside the house and around your yard, with candy and treats to be found by your own household members. Host a virtual Halloween costume or pumpkin-carving contest. Pumpkin-carving contests can also be held within your own household, or outside with friends and neighbors at a distance. Have a Halloween movie night with your own family, or an outdoor movie night with local family friends spaced at least six feet apart, or more distance if screaming is likely to occur. The GCHD suggests that haunted houses may be designed as a no-touch outdoor activity with a one-way path, but must be approved by the GCHD.

Moderate-risk activities include giving out treats to trick-or-treaters by creating individually wrapped treat bags that can be set out for kids to grab at a distance, such as at the edge of your yard or end of a walkway or driveway. You can also participate by sitting in a chair outside at a safe distance from the treats. If choosing to do this, they remind us to be sure to wash our hands thoroughly before and after preparing the treat bags.

For those going trick-or-treating, stay in groups of your own household members, and keep six feet of distance from any non-household members. Trick-or-treaters over the age of two should also wear a cloth face covering that is snug over the nose and mouth. A plastic costume mask is not considered a suitable replacement, and if both are worn, it may restrict breathing and be dangerous. And remember to wash your hands before and after trick-or-treating.

Also consider a visit to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard where hand sanitizer is used before touching pumpkins or apples, masks are worn, and people maintain social distancing.

Garfield County is still in Phase 3 of the Governor's Safe Start Plan, reminds the GCHD, which limits gatherings to 10 or fewer people from outside your household. They also suggest to take hand sanitizer with you when participating in events away from home.

The Garfield County Health District (GCHD) has links to Halloween safety sources on its website, co.garfield.wa.us/public-health.