To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Bay Area, departments of health are ordering an end to the traditional customs of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
HHS mandates residents to seek at-home and virtual festivities and discourages customary cultural activities like door-to-door trick-or-treating or large multi-household Dia de los Muertos parties. Traditional celebrations encourage touching surfaces like doorbells, door handles, and candy bowls, and make it more difficult to maintain physical distancing, the county health doctors warned.
Traditional cultural holiday activities often promote the congregating and mixing of households, which increases the risk of transmitting COVID-19. It is important to plan early and identify safer options, said Dr. Matt Willis, the County Public Health Officer in Marin.
“Adopting new ideas or making modifications to our customs can reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, while allowing families a way to celebrate these time-honored traditions,” Willis said. “Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, it is important to maintain vigilance with wearing proper face coverings, practicing physical distancing and good hygiene, and keeping other personal protection measures in mind.”
Some safer alternatives for celebrating Halloween or Dia de los Muertos include:
Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween themed decorations, or decorating homes with images and objects to honor deceased loved ones.
Online parties such as costume contests, pumpkin carvings or other virtual family celebrations.
Car-based events (where individuals stay in their vehicles) that comply with public health guidance, such as:
Drive-by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles.
Drive-through events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with Halloween displays.
Drive-in events where individuals can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged non-perishable treats) or take away item(s) from an organizer while the participants remain in their vehicle.
Movie nights at drive-in theaters.
Holiday-themed meals at outdoor restaurants.
Holiday-themed art installations at an outdoor museum.
Preparing traditional family recipes with members of your household.
Playing music in your home that your deceased loved ones enjoyed.
Making and decorating masks or making an altar for the deceased.
Gatherings and events not allowed under current San Mateo and state health orders:
Halloween gatherings, Dia de los Muertos celebrations, events or parties with non-household members are not permitted unless they are part of your household social bubble of 12 individuals or less, are conducted outdoors, and are otherwise in compliance with the social distancing health order.
Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, and haunted house attractions are not allowed.
Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household.
Having a large dinner party with people from different households coming from different geographic locations.
Attending large indoor celebrations with singing or chanting.
Leave a Reply