Olmsted Co. Public Health releases safe Halloween recommendations

The release issued Friday morning listed different Halloween activities in three risk categories; low, medium and high.

Low-risk

• Celebrate at home with members of your household by having a special Halloween-themed meal, carving pumpkins, and watching a movie.
• Have a family scavenger hunt in the house or backyard.

Medium-risk

• Invite the neighbors to a driveway trick-or-treat opportunity. To maintain physical distancing, put treats in small goodie bags and place them on a table at the end of the driveway or edge of a yard for families to pick up and go.
  • If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing the bags.

High-risk

• Participate in traditional trick-or-treating or attend a trunk-or-treat event.
• Hold or attend an indoor costume party with people not living in your house.

If individuals decide to participate in medium- to high-risk activities, we strongly encourage the three Ws:

• Wear a face mask (a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth face mask)
• Wash your hands
• Watch your distance and stay six feet away from people not in your household

Additional information on safe Halloween guidance can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health website.