Roughly nine months into the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the United States is still witnessing tens of thousands of new coronavirus cases per day, and in recent weeks, new infection rates in some states have surged to levels not seen since mid-summer.

Medical experts are now sounding the alarm that a potential third wave of coronavirus infections will likely be further complicated this fall and winter by the spread of the seasonal flu.

This is indeed bad news for those desperately wanting to get out of their homes and fully enjoy Halloween and the upcoming holiday season.

In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, have already warned that household gatherings are quickly becoming the new drivers of coronavirus infections.

To limit the spread of the virus, some experts are advising people not to host indoor Thanksgiving dinners with other individuals who aren’t part of their immediate household. An outdoor dinner with family and friends in the community is considered less risky.

Similar sentiments could also hold true for fast-approaching Halloween, which would seemingly place millions of children across the United States in harm’s way. What recent data and studies have revealed is that children, compared to the elderly, aren’t as vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, but they have been shown to shed the virus for weeks and can potentially infect their higher-risk parents and grandparents who may have underlying health conditions.

Given these risks, the CDC has already outlined higher-risk activities that people should avoid on October 31. Some of them include participating in traditional trick-or-treating in which candies are handed directly to children, having “trunk-or-treat” events in which treats are handed out from trunks of cars in parking lots, attending crowded indoor costume parties, going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming, and going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household.

Similarly, many individual states have also released guidance on how families can celebrate Halloween safely this year. Let’s take a closer look and see how your state stacks up.

Alabama: 

The state is recommending that families skip some Halloween activities like indoor haunted houses and trick-or-treating. Children should not be allowed to gather in groups with others living outside their respective households. After assessing risks, adults need to emphasize the importance of consistent hand hygiene, proper mask-wearing, and social distancing.

Alaska:

The lowest-risk way to celebrate Halloween is to dress up in costumes as a family and have a party at home with just your household. If your family chooses to trick-or-treat, children should only do so with family members—not with other friends or people outside their household.

Arizona:

The state believes that trick-or-treating can be done safely but says that it’s important to stay home if you feel ill. Children should wear a cloth face mask in addition to any other mask they plan to wear. Homeowners can maintain safety by wearing masks and using tape to make lines that help trick-or-treaters keep a six-foot distance from one another.

Arkansas:

The state says children should not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. If you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Parents also should limit the number of houses children visit.

California:

Many traditional Halloween celebrations pose a high risk of spreading COVID-19, so you should plan on engaging in lower-risk activities like online parties for costume contests or pumpkin carving, watching scary movies at home, and turning your home into a haunted house. You can also put on costumes and go on a physically distanced walk with your household.

Colorado:

The state is encouraging alternatives to traditional, door-to-door trick-or-treating this year to limit the potential spread of COVID-19. If children do go out trick-or-treating, adults should accompany them and help them follow safety precautions.

Connecticut:

Traditional trick-or-treating is considered a high-risk activity, so the state is recommending that citizens participate in one-way trick-or-treating in which goody bags or a large bowl of candy are placed outside of homes. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds before and after preparing the goody bags.

Delaware:

As the novel coronavirus is still active in communities, the state is urging residents to engage in activities that can be done at home with members of the immediate household. Lower-risk activities include pumpkin carving, decorating your home, scavenger hunts, and virtual costume contests.

Florida: 

For those who want to stay in on Halloween, the state recommends carving or decorating pumpkins with family members and displaying them, having a scavenger hunt, and visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples. Parents are encouraged to give their child a good meal prior to trick-or-treating to prevent overindulgence on candy.

Georgia: 

Halloween is full of longstanding traditions, but the state believes many of those customs can put you at a higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19. Large group gatherings are highly discouraged, and keep in mind that Halloween masks are not substitutes for cloth face masks or coverings.

Hawaii:

The state’s health department recommends celebrating with your household members at home and avoiding traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating in which treats are handed directly to children or children take candy from a shared bucket. These are considered high-risk activities that can spread the virus.

Idaho:

Like the CDC, the state is advising against going to strangers’ homes and asking for candy this Halloween. Traditional trick-or-treating is considered a higher-risk activity—in the same category as crowded indoor costume parties and haunted houses. One local police department has already announced that it would cancel its annual “trunk-or-treat” event.

Illinois:

The state has stressed that the safest way to celebrate Halloween is to stay home and plan virtual gatherings. If children are venturing out, they should remember to wear face masks and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. 

Indiana:

Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive should avoid all in-person Halloween activities, including handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. Citizens have also been reminded to stay away from large gatherings of any kind.

Iowa:

Parents and guardians are advised to stay local and limit the number of houses their children visit when trick-or-treating. The state’s department of health is also recommending contacting a doctor if your child has a greater risk of having complications if infected with COVID-19. Leaving goody bags outside for children to take is a better alternative than letting them pick and choose candies from a community bowl.

Kansas:

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has said children and adults will want to make sure their costumes include a mask if they are participating in Halloween festivities this year. However, it does not recommend door-to-door trick-or-treating, gatherings, events, or parties with non-household members.

Kentucky:

For safe trick-or-treating this year, state health officials have recommended placing individually wrapped candy outside on porches, driveways, or tables and maintaining social distancing from those outside of your household. Cloth face masks and coverings are required for trick-or-treaters.

Louisiana:

The state is following most of CDC’s guidelines, but specifically for haunted houses, guest capacity within any structure must not exceed twenty-five people at one time, excluding staff. The maximum group size should not be greater than six related guests.

Maine:

The Maine Center for Disease Control is saying that individuals should consider their own risk levels for COVID-19 when deciding what to do for Halloween. If you’re a homeowner, you should not hand out candy if you are sick and use duct tape to mark six-foot lines leading up to your doorway.

Maryland:

The state’s health department has stated that citizens can participate in outdoor celebrations, but they should do so while adhering to public-health guidelines like wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. Howard County has issued guidelines discouraging door-to-door trick-or-treating, but if it’s done, individuals should remain in “household groups.”

Massachusetts:

The state says to avoid large gatherings, enjoy Halloween outside rather than attending indoor events, and place candy on a platter instead of a bowl. It also wants citizens to wear face masks and leave hand sanitizer by any treats left out for trick-or-treaters to use.

Michigan:

Parents should take the time to tell their children why this year’s Halloween will be different from last year. If children are out trick-or-treating, make sure they are following social-distancing guidelines. To be on the safer side, trick-or-treat with only people in your immediate household.

Minnesota:

The state is warning its citizens to avoid higher-risk activities, such as traditional trick-or-treating, indoor costume parties, and hayrides with people who do not live in the same household. A safer way to distribute treats is to place individual goody bags at the end of driveways or yards.