This Halloween, most of the activities you may be used to are not going to be plausible due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In order to still be able to celebrate the holiday safely, there are many alternative activities you can participate in with minimal risk of exposure to COVID-19. Some suggestions may include:

Low-Risk Activities

If you are looking for safe activities to do with your family, there are plenty of options available that can be done from the comfort of your own home, including:

• Painting pumpkins. You can visit the pumpkin patch all together to pick out the perfect gourds, or you can even get them at your local supermarket for added convenience! Painting with non-toxic paints can easily keep your family occupied for a period of time and is safer than carving with sharp knives, allowing the entire family to participate.
• Having a trick-or-treat themed scavenger hunt for your children to find pieces of candy and prizes around your home in bags or boxes so they can open them for a surprise.
• Schedule a virtual costume party for your children and their friends to show off their outfits and socialize, especially if your school district is still doing virtual learning and they haven’t been around other children in some time.

Moderate Risk Fall Activities

There are some activities you can do for the fall season, but have slightly higher risk of exposure to the virus. If your community is allowing trick-or-treating this year, the safest way to participate is by doing one-way trick-or-treat. Instead of having kids come directly to your door, line up goody bags or plastic cups of candy along your yard or driveway to take one at a time. When the current batch runs out, go outside to replenish them while maintaining distance between yourself and others. When handling candy, make sure you wear gloves and wash your hands to kill any lingering germs.

High-Risk Activities for COVID-19 Exposure

Two activities you should avoid this Halloween due to high risk of exposure include traditional door-to-door trick or treating and open-air haunted houses. It is critical to make sure everyone in your family and who are surrounding you are wearing masks or face coverings; however, please note that masks that are a part of Halloween costumes do not count. Open air haunted houses are considered high risk due to the close quarters entrants are in as well as the fact that participants may be shouting and screaming while not wearing masks. Door-to-door trick-or-treating is high risk due to the proximity participants get to others, who may not be wearing masks in the comfort of their own home.

COVID-19 Rapid Testing in Dedham, MA

If you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, don’t wait to get tested. AFC Urgent Care Dedham offers COVID-19 rapid testing seven days a week by appointment only. Most major insurance plans are accepted. For more information, please call 781-461-0200