JIC RELEASE NO. 415 – DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2020-042 – Minimum Requirements for Halloween
- Press Release
- Posted on Date: 10/25/2020 08:15 pm
For information on COVID-19 cases, visit the official COVID-19 Situation Report at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/.
DPHSS Issues Guidance Memo 2020-042
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) issued Guidance Memo 2020-042, relative to the minimum requirements in celebration of Halloween.
DPHSS discourages traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Social gatherings of more than five (5) individuals (i.e. Halloween and/or costume parties, haunted houses, etc.) are strictly prohibited.
The following guidelines are designed to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection.
The DPHSS strongly encourages safe alternative activities to enjoying Halloween such as:
- Decorating and carving pumpkins with only those in the same household;
- Decorating your home;
- Admiring Halloween decorations in your neighborhood at a distance;
- Reading classic Halloween stories with those in the same household;
- Baking Halloween-themed cookies;
- Watching Halloween-themed movies or shows at your house;
- Hiding Halloween treats in and around the house;
- Participating in safe curbside trick-or-treating events sponsored by responsible businesses;
- Holding drive-by costume or car-decorating contests with judges who are physically distanced; and/or
- Holding a virtual Halloween costume contest so everyone can show off their costume.
In the event individuals choose to participate in traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating, DPHSS provides requirements below for all individuals involved.
- General Guidance
- Individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms or COVID-19-like symptoms are prohibited from participating in trick-or-treating.
- Trick-or-treat only with members of the same household.
- Face masks coverings must be worn by all individuals with the exception of children under the age of 2 or anyone who has difficulty breathing or a history of trouble breathing.
- Households that have individuals under isolation or under quarantine due to COVID-19 are strictly prohibited from participating in any trick-or-treating activities.
- All individuals participating in any trick-or-treating activities are advised to properly wash hands before and after each activity.
- Consider household members who may be at greater risk of complications if COVID-19 is brought into the home, such as those with underlying health conditions, women who are pregnant, or older family members.
- Guidance for Individuals/Households Distributing Treats
- Wash hands properly before and after handling treats.
- Wear a face mask at all times.
- Avoid direct contact with other trick-or-treaters and maintain social distancing of six (6) feet or more.
- Treats should only be distributed outdoors.
- Use store-bought treats that are individually plastic-wrapped.
- Adults should be the individuals distributing treats while wearing a face mask and hand sanitizing between trick-or-treaters.
- It is highly encouraged to practice safer, socially distant ways to conduct door-to-door trick-or-treating and distributing treats:
- Set up a table/station outdoors with individually bagged treats spaced apart for trick-or-treaters to take.
- Use a candy slide made of PVC pipe, or hanging treats from a wall or fence.
- It is highly encouraged to use tongs, a spoon, or a tray to distribute treats. Children should not be allowed to retrieve their treats from a bowl or bag.
- COVID-19 positive individuals or individuals in quarantine are strictly prohibited from distributing any treats.
- Guidance for Parents/Guardians/Adults Responsible for Underage Trick-or-Treaters and for Trick-or-Treaters
- Parents/Guardians should talk with their children about safety precautions and physical distancing in preparation of trick-or-treating.
- If your child is at greater risk of complications from COVID-19, contact your doctor before allowing participation in Halloween activities.
- Wear a face mask:
- Highly encouraged to make face masks a part of Halloween costumes.
- A costume mask is not a substitute for a face mask.
- Do NOT wear a costume mask over a cloth mask or a cloth mask over a costume mask as it may make breathing more difficult.
- Practice social distancing:
- Stay at least six (6) feet away from others who do not live in the same household
- Individuals are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when in close contact with others for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period.
- Wash your hands:
- Bring hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) with you and use it after touching objects or other individuals.
- Parents/Guardians: supervise young children using hand sanitizers.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds when you get home and before you consume any treats.
- Upon completion of trick-or-treating, it is highly advised to:
- Leave treats out for 48 hours before consuming.
- Allow children to eat only original, factory-wrapped treats. Avoid homemade treats made by strangers.
- Guidance for Business Operators Distributing Treats
- It is highly discouraged for businesses to distribute treats in an enclosed or indoor area or in an in-person and non-curbside manner.
- Outdoor, drive-up, and curbside is highly preferable during the distribution of treats.
- For Employees Distributing Treats:
- Face masks are required to be worn by all employees distributing treats.
- Hands must be washed by employees with soap for a minimum of twenty (20) seconds or with hand sanitizer (with 60% or more alcohol) before handling treats. Use hand sanitizers between servicing trick-or-treating vehicles.
- It is highly encouraged to use tongs, a spoon, or a tray to distribute treats. Children should not be allowed to retrieve their treats from a bowl or bag.
- For Individuals Receiving Treats:
- Individuals shall not exit their vehicles.
- Turn off any mechanical ventilation (i.e. fan and air conditioning) of the vehicle before driving up to receive treats.
- Face masks must be worn by all individuals in the vehicle while receiving treats.
- For Employees Distributing Treats:
- All other DPHSS guidance memos and minimum requirements must be followed to include, but not be limited to:
- Follow all occupancy requirements and limitations currently in effect.
- Do not allow any congregation of individuals.
- Have hand sanitizers readily available to all customers.
- Eliminate all common seating, congregate, or play areas where children and others might gather.
- Follow all other DPHSS guidance memos and minimum requirements currently in effect.
The DPHSS also asks the public to download the Guam COVID Alert app. For more information visithttps://guamcovidalert.guam.gov. For additional questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 300-9579 between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Guidance Memo 2020-042 Halloween
DPHSS Halloween Guidance
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit dphss.guam.gov or guamrecovery.com. For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.
Recent Comments