City of Kalamazoo provides Halloween safety tips during COVID-19 pandemic

KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Halloween is going to look different this year while the pandemic continues.

Last week, the City of Kalamazoo released a set of guidelines for celebrating Halloween safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Kalamazoo does not specify a date, times, or location for trick-or-treating in the City of Kalamazoo, and leaves that decision with individual residents and families.

Kzoo Parks, the City of Kalamazoo’s Parks & Recreation Department, hosts a family Halloween event each year that is free and open to all community members. Due to the health precautions in place this year, the event is currently full.

However, interested community members can join a waitlist at www.kzooparks.org/Halloween.

Residents and families can still celebrate safely by adhering to the following guidelines –

For Homeowners:

• Do not hand out candy if you are sick.
• Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose.
• Use duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of your home and leading to driveway/front door.
• Position a distribution table between yourself and trick or treaters.
• Distribute candy on disinfected table to eliminate direct contact.
• Wash hands often.
• Consider handing out candy in an open space where distancing is possible, rather than from the front door.
• Consider a neighborhood costume parade, it is an easy way to keep safe space between children.

For Parents and Trick-or-Treaters:

• Share with your children that this year may be different than last but let them know some of the new ways you plan to celebrate and still have lots of fun.
• Stay home if sick.
• Talk with your children about safety and social distancing guidelines and expectations. Keep a 6-foot distance from others not in your family group.
• Trick or treat with the people you live with.
• Participate in one-way trick or treating and guide children to stay to the right to ensure social distancing.
• Avoid congregating in groups around houses.
• Carry a flashlight at night and ensure your children have reflective clothing.
• Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose
• A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask if wearing both causes difficulty breathing. Instead, consider using a Halloween themed cloth mask.
• Only go to houses with safety measures in place.
• Inspect candy.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, especially before eating or after coughing/sneezing, and as soon as you return home.
• Check out halloween2020.org to find exciting activities and ways to celebrate Halloween this year based on levels of COVID risks in your area.

For safe Halloween gatherings:

Consider refraining from Halloween gatherings this year or use an online meeting platform to have a virtual party instead. If you choose to have a gathering:

• Only have a few people over to limit the possibility of crowding. Indoor gatherings over 10 people at a residence are prohibited by MDHHS Order.
• Have all food and party favors set out individually to prevent cross contamination. (Avoid buffet style or shared food and drinks.)
• Make sure there are plenty of areas with hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Stay 6 feet away from others. Wear a fun face mask instead of a costume mask.

A word from the Sheriff:

On Wednesday, October 28, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller spoke with WKZO about Halloween safety tips under the pandemic.

“Normally, I’m talking about the masks children wear on Halloween to make sure they have large enough eyeholes and that they can see where they’re going at night, and it’s not something that’s going to obstruct their view,” Fuller said. “Right now, I’m talking about the masks that cover our nose and our mouth, making sure that if you’re out trick-or-treating, that you’re still doing the things we need to do to keep us safe from COVID-19.”

Fuller also notes that the state’s COVID numbers are concerning to both himself and health officials.

“This pandemic is not going away, it’s actually increased in the last several weeks, and we have a concern for that,” Fuller said. “So if you’re out trick-or-treating, you want to make sure the mask is on your face and it protects you and others from the pandemic.”

Fuller recommends celebrating Halloween in a socially-distanced setting, rather than engaging in risky activity.

“Get the kids dressed up in their costumes, have candy for them, maybe watch a family-friendly Halloween movie in your costumes,” Fuller said. “Or, do something like an Easter Egg hunt across the yard, but it’s not Easter Eggs you’re looking for, you’re looking for Halloween-type things like candy sitting there. Do that at home and you’ll stay safe.”

Further reading:

These guidelines come as Kalamazoo County health officials are reporting an uptick in COVID-19 cases. More information about that can be found at this link.

Further safety tips can be found through the Kalamazoo County Government website, and through the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC).