Halloween will go on in Pittsburgh this year, according to city officials. But residents are urged to follow several precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Trick-or-treat hours are from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 for city residents.
Residents are urged to:
- Go trick-or-treating only with members of their household;
- Wear cloth facemasks;
- Use hand sanitizer frequently;
- Distribute candy by leaving it outside, avoiding face-to-face interactions at the door;
- Follow social distancing on sidewalks and when approaching homes where others are getting candy.
City officials also urge residents to not attend or host indoor costume parties. Indoor spaces can create a higher risk than outdoor spaces due to decreased ventilation and difficulty keeping people spread apart.
Many traditional Halloween activities like traditional trick-or-treating can be high-risk for spreading the virus, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC suggests lining up goodie bags or setting a bowl of individually wrapped candies at the edge of a yard or stoop for kids to collect rather than handing out treats. Doubling up on masks is not recommended. The CDC suggests skipping costume masks in favor of Halloween-themed cloth facemasks.
Health officials recommend people participate in lower risk activities like carving pumpkins with members of your household.
Those who have COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters, according to the CDC.
