According to a new survey by Real Estate Witch, Clever Real Estate’s sister site, 70% of Americans believe in the paranormal. If those numbers tell us anything, it’s that the vast majority of us are still planning on participating in Halloween festivities this year, despite the ongoing pandemic.
If you are still planning on celebrating Halloween, there are some things you can do to make your seasonal activities safer this year. Check our best tips on how to have a socially distanced Halloween below.
How to safely trick-or-treat
If you have young kids, they will probably want to trick-or-treat like any other year. You’re not alone—according to the Real Estate Witch survey, 60% of parents say they still plan to let their children trick-or-treat this year.
SOURCE: REAL ESTATE WITCH
Before you send them out in costume, however, you should know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) categorizes trick-or-treating as a moderate-to-high-risk activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event that you aren’t willing to take that risk, consider planning an alternative activity for them, such as a candy scavenger hunt in your own home.
If you do you want to go door-to-door, make sure to take precautions. For example, children over the age of 3 should be made to wear masks in addition to their costume. Unfortunately, in this situation, a Halloween mask is not an acceptable substitute for a regular cloth or medical mask.
SOURCE: REAL ESTATE WITCH
Do your best to avoid high-touch surfaces such as doorbells,. And, be sure to wash your hands at the end of the night.
Best practices for handing out candy
A whopping 72% of the Real Estate Witch’s 1,500 survey participants said they still plan to hand out candy this year.
SOURCE: REAL ESTATE WITCH
Many people, however, are making changes to how they hand out candy, which is likely a good, safe move. According to the CDC, having children dig through a bowl of candy to find favorites increases risk of transmission.
SOURCE: REAL ESTATE WITCH
Instead, the CDC recommends making “grab bags” that each child can take individually. And, rather than getting close to each trick-or-treater, try to sit outside and direct the children to your candy bags.
Hosting a Halloween party
This may not be the best year to host a Halloween party. If you do plan on having one, however, it’s a good idea to limit your guest list significantly.
Your state will likely have its own guidelines on acceptable sizes for gatherings. But any party should absolutely be held outside, where people can stand a distance of at least six feet apart. Your guests should also be encouraged to wear masks whenever they are not eating or drinking.
Where food and beverages are concerned, opt for individual servings whenever possible. In this case, it’s best to serve single-serving snacks over a family-style dinner or buffet, and you’ll want to buy canned beer over offering a keg or draft option. The less people have to share the safer. That said, one thing that you can do safely is to go all out with your decorations for the party. Although this may not be the best option if your home is currently on the market, if you don’t plan on selling in the near future, you’re free to make a statement. Decorations are, after all, are relatively low-touch and a great way to get into the spirit of the holiday.
Have a safe, distant Halloween — and still have fun
Although celebrating Halloween may look a little bit different in the age of COVID-19, it is possible. Making sure to practice social distance and wear a mask. And, wash your hands to make your festivities more pandemic-friendly. Taking the precautions listed here will help ensure that this year’s celebrations will be as safe as possible for everyone.
