The state of California has released guidelines for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines can be found at https://covid19.ca.gov/holidays/ and encourage residents to enjoy the holidays safely by planning alternative celebrations that don’t risk spreading coronavirus to family members and others in the community. Tips for each holiday include:
Halloween
Plan lower-risk celebrations, like:
- Joining online parties for costume contests or pumpkin carving
- Enjoying activities from your car like drive-through Halloween displays or drive-in movies
- Having fun at home with scary movies, a candy scavenger hunt, or turning your home into a haunted house
- Putting on costumes and going on a physically distanced walk with your household
- Dressing up your home or yard with Halloween decorations
- Many traditional Halloween celebrations – such as parties and in-person, door to door trick-or-treating – pose a high risk of spreading COVID-19 and could put your family and loved ones at risk. These activities involve face to face interactions with people from different households, and if an infection is detected among a participant, it will be very difficult to find and notify those who may have been exposed.
For more low-risk Halloween activities, read CDPH’s Guidance for Safer Halloween and Dia de los Muertos Celebrations during COVID-19.
Día de los Muertos
For safety, celebrate Día de los Muertos only with other members of your household, or online.
Some low-risk activities are:
- Placing altars outside or in a front-facing window so they can be seen from a distance
- Creating virtual altars online that can be shared through email or social media
- Creating altar cards that can be sent in the mail
- Visiting cemeteries only with your household. Wear masks and physically distance from others. Limit time you spend there.
- For more low-risk Día de los Muertos activities, read CDPH’s Guidance for Safer Halloween and Dia de los Muertos Celebrations during COVID-19.