News Flash

NEWS RELEASE
Office of the Mayor
Oct. 2, 2020

Mayor Allen Joines is urging residents to start planning now on ways to protect themselves and others this Halloween. State guidelines for safe Halloween parties and trick-or-treating offer options.

“The pandemic is still with us.” Joines said, “and as much as we wish it were over, we can’t afford to let down our guard. I urge everyone who intends to observe Halloween to look at these guidelines and take steps to ensure the safety of themselves, of our local children, and of others who could be at risk.”

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is “strongly” recommending that residents choose alternate, safe Halloween activities instead of the traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating.

A list of alternative activities, categorized as “low-risk” or “moderate risk,” is posted at files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/NCDHHS-Interim-Guidance-for-Halloween.pdf or can be found by entering “NCDHHS-Interim-Guidance-for-Halloween” in a web browser.

To ensure the safety of trick-or treaters who arrive at your door, the guidelines suggest that residents gently toss candy into bags, or use a “candy chute” or tube to pass candy from the porch to children waiting six feet away.

Alternatively, residents can assemble goodie bags and line them up for children to take, or place pieces of candy spaced out on a table. 

The guidelines specifically request that residents refrain from handing candy directly to children, either at houses or at “trunk or treat” events, or leaving candy in a bowl or bucket for children to help themselves.

Crowded indoor costume parties should be avoided. Outdoor parties with attendees wearing masks and practicing social distancing pose less of a risk.