Trick or Treat tips for a COVID Hallowe’en in Pickering, Ajax and Durham Region

Durham Region’s Health Department has a few tips if you or your children choose to participate in Hallowe’en this year.

If you choose to trick-or-treat door-to-door:

• Stay home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild.
• Trick-or-treat outdoors as much as possible.
• If trick-or-treating indoors maintain physical distancing as much as possible and wear a face covering, especially when physical distancing is a challenge.
• Be creative and build the face covering into your costume; however, a costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering, and a costume mask should not be worn over a non-medical mask or face covering
• Do not crowd doorsteps – take turns one at a time.
• Do not sing or shout for your treats.
• Keep interactions brief with those giving out treats.
• Use hand sanitizer often, especially before and after handling your face covering, after touching frequently touched surfaces, when you arrive home from trick-or-treating, and before and after handling or eating treats.
• There is no need to clean or disinfect pre-packaged treats.

If you choose to give out treats:

• Do not participate in Hallowe’en festivities if you have symptoms, even if they are mild.
• Keep interactions with trick-or-treaters short and encourage them to move along after receiving their treat from you.
• Consider wearing a face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
• If you are dressing up, consider including the face covering as part of your costume.
• Give out only purchased and packaged treats.
• Do not ask trick-or-treaters to sing or shout for their treats.
• Clean your hands often throughout the evening using soap and water or with hand sanitizer.

Happy Hallowe’en!