October 7, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
Are your kids looking forward to one of their favorite "holidays," Halloween, spending hours deciding which costumes to wear? Have you already bought candy or other goodies for trick-or-treaters, wondering if Halloween will carry on as usual in Hingham?
Worry no more. Even though this year will be very different from past Halloweens, the answer is yes -- your children may go trick-or-treating even during a pandemic "to the extent that individuals and families feel it is safe to participate in Halloween activities this year," in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines that are outlined in the "COVID-19 Halloween Guidance" post on the Hingham town website. It's important to abide by these guidelines to help ensure a safe and healthy time.
"This question [of whether to "cancel" trick-or-treating] has arisen in past years when Halloween weather forecasts were poor," Selectmen Chair Mary Power told the Hingham Anchor. "The Town of Hingham hasn't made decisions about Halloween in past years, and we are not inclined to do so this year. We do encourage residents to follow the Center for Disease Control guidelines, particularly with respect to gatherings."
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers the following recommendations for a safe and healthy Halloween:
* Wear a face mask or face covering.
* Observe good hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of alcohol-based sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially after coming into contact with frequently-touched surfaces and before eating candy.
* Avoid touching your face.
* Stay home and away from Halloween activities, including handing out Halloween treats, if you:
-- feel unwell;
-- have tested positive for COVID-19;
-- have been exposed to someone with COVID-19; or
-- have traveled to or from a state that is not classified as lower-risk within the last 14 days. (For more information on lower risk states, see the state’s COVID-19 "Travel Order" webpage.)
* Maintain social distancing of at least six feet between all other participants who are not members of the same household.
The CDC offers additional guidance on lower-, moderate-, and higher-risk Halloween activities at this link:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
A few examples of CDC advice that really stand out are:
* not to wear a Halloween mask in place of a cloth face covering unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that cover your mouth and nose and don't leave gaps around your face;
* not to wear a costume mask over a cloth face mask because doing so can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it difficult to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
Trick-or-treaters are also urged to avoid singing, chanting, or shouting, especially when not wearing a face mask and within six feet of others.
Last but not least, enjoy a safe Halloween with your family!