City of Norman Recommends Lower Risk Activities This Halloween

With spooky season approaching, the City of Norman advises residents to show their Halloween spirit this year by practicing pandemic safe celebrations to protect yourself and others.

 

This holiday is no different than the rest of the year when it comes to reducing the spread of coronavirus. Stay home if you feel sick or have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19; wear a face covering whenever you leave home; keep your distance from others who don’t live in your household; and remember that being outside is safer than being inside, especially in combination with face covering and keeping your distance. Consider using a themed cloth mask, as a costume mask is not a substitute. Avoid wearing a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe.

 

The City recommends residents participate in lower risk activates to celebrate Halloween this year:

 

LOWER RISK

  • Celebrating Halloween traditions like carving pumpkins or a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in your home. 
  • Visiting an outdoor pumpkin patch while wearing a mask and maintaining distance from others.
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at least 6 feet apart while wearing masks, with a very small group of neighbors or friends. Fewer people with more distance is safer.
  • Having a virtual costume contest.
  • Dressing up your house, apartment, living space, yard or car with Halloween decoration or decorating homes with images and objects to honor deceased loved ones.
  • Preparing traditional family recipes with members of your household. (Dia de Los Muertos)
  • Playing music in your home that your deceased loved ones enjoyed. (Dia de Los Muertos)
  • Making and decorating masks or making an altar for the deceased. (Dia de Los Muertos)
  • Participating in vehicle-based gatherings like drive-in movies and drive-through attractions, or car/bike parades where participants do not leave their vehicles. 

MODERATE RISK

  • Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to physically distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard) or through a decorated porch delivery tube.
    • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing the bags.
    • Ensure everyone is wearing an appropriate face covering and maintaining a physical distance from others.
    • Everyone participating should bring hand sanitizer and use it frequently AND wash their hands immediately after coming home.
  • Having a very small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade or movie night where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart and are wearing masks. Fewer people with more distance is safer.
  • Enjoying themed dining that complies with local guidance or takeout.

HIGHER RISK

  • Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door-to-door, especially from a communal bowl. Although this activity is outdoors, it is higher risk because it brings multiple people from different households together.
  • Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community. Doing so can bring COVID-19 into the area and pose a risk for greater spread.

If trick-or-treating is occurring in your neighborhood and you are at home and do not want to be disturbed, you may want to post a sign or turn off your porch light.