Contra Costa health officials: Avoid trick-or-treating this Halloween

As state health officials work on clarifying rules for how to do Halloween this year, Contra Costa County is recommending that residents "avoid" trick-or-treating and haunted houses this year.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY — As state health officials work on clarifying rules for how to do Halloween this year, Contra Costa County is recommending that residents “avoid” trick-or-treating and haunted houses and instead opt for decorations and dressing up, according to a news release from the county’s Health Services division.

“COVID-19 can easily pass from person to person through close contact, and it’s difficult to maintain a safe distance on porches and doorsteps, especially in neighborhoods where trick or treating is popular,” the memo states. “Holiday parties involving close contact with people outside the household are also risky spots for catching COVID-19, especially if they involve adult beverages. Even if they begin the evening with masks (costume or otherwise), people tend to relax their physical distancing and remove face coverings when they come together.”

It is not clear whether the county plans to actually ban trick-or-treating. The county’s press release included mostly advisory language, recommending that “dressing up in costume can still be fun even if you choose not to go out.”

It also encouraged people to opt for decorating their homes and driving through the neighborhood as an alternative to trick-or-treating and parties.

Current health orders for the county maintain that gatherings with more than 12 people should not happen, and small gatherings should happen outside, with everyone over the age of 2 donning face coverings.

On Tuesday, California Health and Human Services Director Dr. Mark Ghaly during his weekly media briefing said trick-or-treating is “really not advised,” though he stopped short of saying it would be prohibited.

Counties around the state seem to be grappling with the issue. Los Angeles County last week put out guidance banning trick-or-treating but revised the rules the next day after public outcry, maintaining that it discourages trick-or-treating. That county is banning Halloween parties, carnivals and haunted house attractions.

Contra Costa Health Services officials say they are in touch with cities to advise on planning low-risk Halloween activities.

Contra Costa County still falls within the “purple tier” of the state’s reopening plan, meaning that COVID-19 remains widespread. According to data most recently published by the health department, the county’s rate of tests returning positive over the last seven days — based on tests taken the previous week — is 4.1%. The average number of daily new cases in the county per 100,000 residents over the last seven days — based on the same time lag — is 6.8%.