Halloween Activities Not Permitted During Covid-19 Pandemic in LA County.

As fall approaches families start to plan for the upcoming holiday season beginning with Halloween. Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated does not allow you to minimize contact with non-household members, it is important to plan early and identify safer alternatives.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health would like to share information on how to take part in this holiday in a manner that reduces your risk of developing COVID-19. Since some of the traditional ways in which this holiday is celebrated are not permitted this year consider some safer alternatives that are listed below.

Halloween Activities: Not Permitted

• Door to door trick or treating is not allowed because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors especially in neighborhoods that are popular with trick or treaters.

• “Trunk or treating” events where children go from car to car instead of door to door to receive treats are also not allowed.

• Gatherings or Parties with non-household members are not permitted even if they are conducted outdoors.

• Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, and haunted house attractions are not allowed. Permitted

• Online parties/contests (e.g. costume or pumpkin carving)

• Car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle based parades including: a. Drive by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles and drive by “judges” that are appropriately physically distanced. b. Drive through events where individuals remain in their vehichles and drive through an area with Halloween displays. c. Drive in events where individuals can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged non-perishable treats) or take away item from an organizer while the participants remain in their vehicle

• Halloween movie nights at drive in theaters (must comply with the public health drive in movie theater guidance).

• Halloween themed meals at outdoor restaurants (must comply with the restaurant protocol).

• Halloween themed art installations at an outdoor museum (must comply with the public health museum guidance.) • Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween themed decorations.

Personal Protection Measures: Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween it is important to keep the following in mind: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Guidance for Celebrating Halloween Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Los Angeles County Department of Public Health www.publichealth.lacounty.gov 9/5/20 Halloween (English)

1. Wear a cloth face covering when outside your home and around others that are not part of your household

2. Avoid confined spaces - Actively stay away from indoor spaces that don’t allow for easy distancing of at least 6ft between you and others

3. Avoid close contact – Stay at least 6 feet away from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially while talking, eating, drinking, and singing. 4. Wash or sanitize your hands often.

5. Clean frequently touched items regularly.

6. If you are sick, or you have been in contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19 stay home, and away from others. Know where to get reliable information Beware of scams, false news and hoaxes surrounding novel coronavirus.

Accurate information, including announcements of new cases in LA County, will always be distributed by Public Health through press releases, social media, and our website.

The website has more information on COVID-19 including FAQs, infographics and a guide to coping with stress, as well as tips on handwashing • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH, County) o http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/ o Social media: @lapublichealth Other reliable sources of information about novel coronavirus are: • California Department of Public Health (CDPH, State)

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, National) o http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/novel-coronavirus-2019.html If you have questions and would like to speak to someone call the Los Angeles County Information line 2-1-1 which is available 24 hours a day.