The Halloween and Costume Association (HCA) has announced a number of new guidelines and resources to help families across the US celebrate Halloween safely this year, in the light of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
The new tools include a colour-coded Covid risk level map – provided by the Harvard Global Health Institute – which provides regional Covid risk level. Each risk level comes with a set of Halloween Safety Guidelines for the 2020 season, created in alignment with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) social distancing guidelines.
These guidelines and the fully interactive map are now live on Halloween2020.org, with other features including social distancing suggestions, celebration alternatives and a Safe House Pledge (a certificate designed to reassure trick or treaters that proper safety measures are in place).
“We are on a mission to ensure the safest Halloween celebration possible this year and want to make sure families and communities have access to the best, up-to-date guidance that prioritizes community safety,” said Kevin Johnson, HCA chairman and chief excitement officer at Elope.
“The colour-coded map developed by the Harvard Global Health Institute, along with our guidelines and additional website resources, can help ensure families find fun, yet safe ways to celebrate this season.”
As cities and counties begin to plan for Halloween and announce local celebrations and guidance, the HCA guidance has been designed to provide the information and advice that people need.
“Families and policy-makers need clear and consistent information when it comes to Covid-19 risks,” said Dr. Ingrid Katz, infectious diseases expert at the Harvard Global Health Institute. “Through our interactive COVID risk level map, we hope to provide parents a reliable source to help them celebrate the Halloween holiday in the most safe, fun way possible according to the risk level in their community.”
