Roughly nine months into the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the United States is still witnessing tens of thousands of new coronavirus cases per day, and in recent weeks, new infection rates in some states have surged to levels not seen since mid-summer.

Medical experts are now sounding the alarm that a potential third wave of coronavirus infections will likely be further complicated this fall and winter by the spread of the seasonal flu.

This is indeed bad news for those desperately wanting to get out of their homes and fully enjoy Halloween and the upcoming holiday season.

In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, have already warned that household gatherings are quickly becoming the new drivers of coronavirus infections.

To limit the spread of the virus, some experts are advising people not to host indoor Thanksgiving dinners with other individuals who aren’t part of their immediate household. An outdoor dinner with family and friends in the community is considered less risky.

Similar sentiments could also hold true for fast-approaching Halloween, which would seemingly place millions of children across the United States in harm’s way. What recent data and studies have revealed is that children, compared to the elderly, aren’t as vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, but they have been shown to shed the virus for weeks and can potentially infect their higher-risk parents and grandparents who may have underlying health conditions.

Given these risks, the CDC has already outlined higher-risk activities that people should avoid on October 31. Some of them include participating in traditional trick-or-treating in which candies are handed directly to children, having “trunk-or-treat” events in which treats are handed out from trunks of cars in parking lots, attending crowded indoor costume parties, going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming, and going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household.

Similarly, many individual states have also released guidance on how families can celebrate Halloween safely this year. Let’s take a closer look and see how your state stacks up.

Alabama: 

The state is recommending that families skip some Halloween activities like indoor haunted houses and trick-or-treating. Children should not be allowed to gather in groups with others living outside their respective households. After assessing risks, adults need to emphasize the importance of consistent hand hygiene, proper mask-wearing, and social distancing.

Alaska:

The lowest-risk way to celebrate Halloween is to dress up in costumes as a family and have a party at home with just your household. If your family chooses to trick-or-treat, children should only do so with family members—not with other friends or people outside their household.

Arizona:

The state believes that trick-or-treating can be done safely but says that it’s important to stay home if you feel ill. Children should wear a cloth face mask in addition to any other mask they plan to wear. Homeowners can maintain safety by wearing masks and using tape to make lines that help trick-or-treaters keep a six-foot distance from one another.

Arkansas:

The state says children should not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. If you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Parents also should limit the number of houses children visit.

California:

Many traditional Halloween celebrations pose a high risk of spreading COVID-19, so you should plan on engaging in lower-risk activities like online parties for costume contests or pumpkin carving, watching scary movies at home, and turning your home into a haunted house. You can also put on costumes and go on a physically distanced walk with your household.

Colorado:

The state is encouraging alternatives to traditional, door-to-door trick-or-treating this year to limit the potential spread of COVID-19. If children do go out trick-or-treating, adults should accompany them and help them follow safety precautions.

Connecticut:

Traditional trick-or-treating is considered a high-risk activity, so the state is recommending that citizens participate in one-way trick-or-treating in which goody bags or a large bowl of candy are placed outside of homes. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds before and after preparing the goody bags.

Delaware:

As the novel coronavirus is still active in communities, the state is urging residents to engage in activities that can be done at home with members of the immediate household. Lower-risk activities include pumpkin carving, decorating your home, scavenger hunts, and virtual costume contests.

Florida: 

For those who want to stay in on Halloween, the state recommends carving or decorating pumpkins with family members and displaying them, having a scavenger hunt, and visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples. Parents are encouraged to give their child a good meal prior to trick-or-treating to prevent overindulgence on candy.

Georgia: 

Halloween is full of longstanding traditions, but the state believes many of those customs can put you at a higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19. Large group gatherings are highly discouraged, and keep in mind that Halloween masks are not substitutes for cloth face masks or coverings.

Hawaii:

The state’s health department recommends celebrating with your household members at home and avoiding traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating in which treats are handed directly to children or children take candy from a shared bucket. These are considered high-risk activities that can spread the virus.

Idaho:

Like the CDC, the state is advising against going to strangers’ homes and asking for candy this Halloween. Traditional trick-or-treating is considered a higher-risk activity—in the same category as crowded indoor costume parties and haunted houses. One local police department has already announced that it would cancel its annual “trunk-or-treat” event.

Illinois:

The state has stressed that the safest way to celebrate Halloween is to stay home and plan virtual gatherings. If children are venturing out, they should remember to wear face masks and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. 

Indiana:

Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive should avoid all in-person Halloween activities, including handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Citizens have also been reminded to stay away from large gatherings of any kind.

Iowa:

Parents and guardians are advised to stay local and limit the number of houses their children visit when trick-or-treating. The state’s department of health is also recommending contacting a doctor if your child has a greater risk of having complications if infected with COVID-19. Leaving goody bags outside for children to take is a better alternative than letting them pick and choose candies from a community bowl.

Kansas:

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has said children and adults will want to make sure their costumes include a mask if they are participating in Halloween festivities this year. However, it does not recommend door-to-door trick-or-treating, gatherings, events, or parties with non-household members.

Kentucky:

For safe trick-or-treating this year, state health officials have recommended placing individually wrapped candy outside on porches, driveways, or tables and maintaining social distancing from those outside of your household. Cloth face masks and coverings are required for trick-or-treaters.

Louisiana:

The state is following most of CDC’s guidelines, but specifically for haunted houses, guest capacity within any structure must not exceed twenty-five people at one time, excluding staff. The maximum group size should not be greater than six related guests.

Maine:

The Maine Center for Disease Control is saying that individuals should consider their own risk levels for COVID-19 when deciding what to do for Halloween. If you’re a homeowner, you should not hand out candy if you are sick and use duct tape to mark six-foot lines leading up to your doorway.

Maryland:

The state’s health department has stated that citizens can participate in outdoor celebrations, but they should do so while adhering to public-health guidelines like wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. Howard County has issued guidelines discouraging door-to-door trick-or-treating, but if it’s done, individuals should remain in “household groups.”

Massachusetts:

The state says to avoid large gatherings, enjoy Halloween outside rather than attending indoor events, and place candy on a platter instead of a bowl. It also wants citizens to wear face masks and leave hand sanitizer by any treats left out for trick-or-treaters to use.

Michigan:

Parents should take the time to tell their children why this year’s Halloween will be different from last year. If children are out trick-or-treating, make sure they are following social-distancing guidelines. To be on the safer side, trick-or-treat with only people in your immediate household.

Minnesota:

The state is warning its citizens to avoid higher-risk activities, such as traditional trick-or-treating, indoor costume parties, and hayrides with people who do not live in the same household. A safer way to distribute treats is to place individual goody bags at the end of driveways or yards.

Mississippi:

Home isolation is mandatory if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and should not be handing out candies to trick-or-treaters. Large gatherings, especially indoors, are discouraged. Gatherings and group activities are limited to twenty people indoors and one hundred people outdoors if individuals from different households are closer than six feet apart.

Missouri:

The state has told its citizens to avoid any indoor and crowded outdoor gatherings. A costume mask should not be used as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made from two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave noticeable gaps around the face.

Montana:

The state of Montana has not shared any statewide guidance for Halloween.

Nebraska:

Health officials are saying that people can reduce the risks associated with trick-or-treating by setting out goody bags for families to take while maintaining a safe distance and staying in small groups. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is recommending that children wear masks along with their costumes to help limit the spread.

Nevada:

Nevada Health Response is urging its citizens “to minimize the risk of catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus while enjoying these special days.” Mostly consistent with CDC guidelines, the state is encouraging the public to celebrate Halloween in small groups with the least amount of interaction as possible.

New Hampshire:

The state is asking its citizens to avoid any higher-risk “close contact,” which means being within six feet of a person with COVID-19 for ten minutes or longer. The ten minutes of contact can be at one time or cumulative over the course of the entire day. If social distancing is not possible, then barriers like masks can help reduce the risk of exposure to infected droplets.

New Jersey:

For all Halloween activities, social distancing, mask-wearing, proper hand sanitizing, and gathering limits should be observed. Trick-or-treating groups should be limited to current household members and they should try to stay local and limit the number of homes visited.

New Mexico:

The state has announced a calendar of thirteen family-friendly Halloween activities New Mexicans can safely enjoy at home all throughout the month. Like CDC’s guidelines, it is not recommending traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating and any sizeable indoor gatherings.

New York:

New York officials have already warned against any large parties and gatherings. Governor Andrew Cuomo previously said that he wouldn’t ban trick-or-treaters but will release own guidelines after consulting with the New York State Department of Health.

North Carolina:

The state’s health officials are strongly recommending that parents don’t allow their children to go door-to-door trick-or-treating this year. The health department added that taking candy from a shared bucket and attending crowded costume parties indoors are all considered higher risk.

North Dakota:

The state of North Dakota has not shared any statewide guidance for Halloween.

Ohio:

The state is recommending that hayrides, haunted houses, and trunk-or-treating events be canceled or avoided. It also warned citizens to exercise caution when deciding to participate in trick-or-treating and other events that put them in close contact with individuals outside their respective households.

Oklahoma:

The state’s department of health has stated that celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses low risk for spread. Guidance for those who plan to celebrate Halloween includes avoiding crowded parties and indoor haunted houses. Group activities should be limited to fewer than ten people.

Oregon:

The Oregon Health Authority is recommending that its citizens avoid traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating and “trunk-or-treat” events because these are considered to be high-risk activities. Crowding among people outside households has the potential to further spread the virus.

Pennsylvania:

If you plan to participate in trick-or-treating activities, make sure to trick-or-treat with only members of your household and limit the number of houses you visit. Citizens must follow all state and local guidelines regarding event size—twenty-five people indoors and 150 people outdoors.

Rhode Island:

Trick-or-treaters should keep their groups as small as possible, as the state’s rules limit gatherings to no more than fifteen people at a time. Children should also keep in mind to always wear cloth face masks and coverings. Officials discourage personally handing out candy from a bowl—rather, they should put out candy a few pieces at a time and keep their doors closed.

South Carolina:

The state of South Carolina has not shared any statewide guidance for Halloween.

South Dakota

The state of South Dakota has not shared any statewide guidance for Halloween.

Tennessee:

Some counties like Knox have stressed personal responsibility and asked residents to follow current state and local public-health orders and regulations. A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth face mask and wearing one in addition to a cloth face covering is not recommended.

Texas:

Some local counties are asking citizens to wash their hands before filling candy bowls and setting them out at the end of the driveway. Families that are uncomfortable heading out to strangers’ homes can still hold Halloween traditions like pumpkin carving in small groups. Several “trunk-or-treats” events have been canceled by local fire and police departments.

Utah:

Health officials have told citizens to stay at least six feet away from others who do not live in their home. For trick-or-treaters, they have reminded children that a costume mask does not replace a cloth mask. Better yet, make your cloth mask part of your costume.

Vermont:

Large Halloween parties and gatherings with many people should be avoided. Setting out candy on tables with information on how much can be taken is a great way to reduce contact with others. Parents can help ensure safe practices are maintained by accompanying their trick-or-treating children.

Virginia:

The state’s health department is recommending that you should maintain at least six feet of distance between yourself and others who do not live in your household at all times. Washing your hands or using hand sanitizer before going trick-or-treating or handing out candy is always a great idea.

Washington:

Regardless of how you may choose to celebrate Halloween, the state’s health department says it is important to always wear a face covering that fits snugly over your nose and mouth, avoid confined spaces and people outside of your household, and wash or sanitize your hands often. Plan early and identify safer alternatives to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

West Virginia:

The state’s Governor Jim Justice said he would announce Halloween guidance by October 1, but it has not yet been released.

Wisconsin:

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has asked the public to avoid large outdoor gatherings, such as parties, festivals, and parades. It is also not recommending traditional trick-or-treating from neighbor to neighbor and drinking and socializing at bars.

Wyoming:

The state’s department of health has told citizens to use hand sanitizer frequently while trick-or-treating or engaging in other Halloween festivities. It also noted that a costume mask is not a substitute for a protective face covering unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Minneapolis-based Science and Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek, and Arirang TV. Follow or contact him on LinkedIn.

Image: Reuters.