For Immediate Release: October 1, 2020
The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and the City of Alexandria strongly urge those celebrating Halloween or Dia de los Muertos to choose lower risk activities to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 outbreaks, rather than trick-or-treating and other traditional public activities.
COVID-19 is still active in Alexandria and the region, and large gatherings, particularly indoors, can lead to increased cases and transmission. While Halloween is not a City holiday, the City has been notified that the annual community gathering on Lee Street and the Del Ray Halloween Parade have been cancelled. There are many alternative options for celebrating the upcoming holidays. Find more tips and guidance for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
AHD and the City highly recommend these Halloween activities, which are identified as lower risk by the CDC:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household, or at a safe distance outside, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt with your household members in or around your home
AHD and the City highly recommend these Dia de los Muertos activities, which are identified as lower risk by the CDC:
- Preparing traditional family recipes for family and neighbors, especially those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and delivering them in a way that doesn’t involve contact with others
- Playing music in your home to honor loved ones
- Making and decorating masks for loved ones
- Setting out pillows and blankets in your home for loved ones
- Joining virtual get-together celebrations
AHD and the City do not recommend these Halloween activities, which are identified as moderate risk by the CDC:
- Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up to grab and go while maintaining physical distance. If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags
- Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart or attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask, and should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face. Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. AHD recommends using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
- Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest or Halloween movie night with local family and friends where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading COVID-19.
- Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching or picking produce, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance between people from different households.
AHD and the City do not recommend these Dia de los Muertos activities, which are identified as moderate risk by the CDC:
- Having a small group outdoor, open-air parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
- Visiting and decorating graves of loved ones with household members only and keeping more than 6 feet away from others
- Hosting or attending a small dinner with local family and friends outdoors where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
AHD and the City strongly discourage these Halloween and Dia de los Muertos activities, which are identified as higher risk by the CDC:
- Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating
- Trunk-or-treat events, where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Attending crowded costume parties, or similar events, held indoors
- Having a large dinner party with people from different households coming from different geographic locations
- Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
Regardless of the activity, everyone participating in celebrations with people from other households should wear cloth masks over the nose and mouth, maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance at all times, and stay home if they are ill or have been exposed to COVID-19.
If you do go out, follow these best practices:
- Those accompanying trick or treaters should wear protective face masks.
- Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks, and avoid crossing yards.
- Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant.
- Travel in small groups with an adult accompanying children.
- Make sure children under age 10 are supervised as they cross the street.
- Drive slowly; watch for children in the street and on medians; exit driveways and alleyways carefully.
- Attach children’s names and phone numbers to their costumes.
- Parents should inspect any food prior to children eating it
- Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn't commercially wrapped.
- Before eating, wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
Visit alexandriava.gov/Halloween for more details about holiday activities, as well as ideas on how to modify traditional Halloween and Dia de los Muertos activities.
For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.
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