HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.9.20 For Immediate Release_ Public Health Encourages Safer Alternatives to Celebrate Halloween during COVID-19
From:Almaguer, Lisa
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;
McCracken, Shari;Paulsen, Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;
Teeter, Doug;York, Danette;Bernstein, Robert;DOC, PublicHealth;Hatcher, Casey;Johnston, Dana
Cc:Kirk, Mia
Subject:For Immediate Release: Public Health Encourages Safer Alternatives to Celebrate Halloween during COVID-19
Date:Friday, October 9, 2020 10:09:43 AM
Attachments:HalloweenCOVIDTipSheet.pdf
The following press release will be issued shortly…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9,2020
Public Health Encourages Safer Alternatives to Celebrate Halloween during COVID-
19
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. –As families start to plan for the upcoming holiday season
beginning with Halloween, it is important to plan early and identify safer options to reduce
the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for
spreading the virus. Butte County Public Health (BCPH) recommends that you choose a
safer alternative to celebrate Halloween.
“Now that we have moved into a less restrictive tier and our numbers are fairly low, it would
be devastating if people celebrating Halloween ignored the prevention measures, engaged
in unsafe activities or gatherings and we suffer a spike in cases,” stated Danette York,
Director of BCPH. “It’s simply not worth it and could be devastating for everyone, especially
our businesses.”
The safest way to celebrate Halloween is with people you live with or to celebrate
virtually.
Safe alternatives include online parties/contests, car parades, and decorating your house or
yard with Halloween themed decorations.
Door-to-door trick-or-treating or “trunk-or-treating” is not recommended as it can be difficult
to maintain proper physical distancing and avoid crowding.
Under the current State Health Officer Order gatherings, events or parties of any size with
non-household members are not permitted, even if they are conducted outdoors. This
means that events such as Halloween carnivals, festivals, live entertainment or haunted
house attractions are not allowed.
View the Halloween Tip Sheet for safer alternatives during COVID-19.
All residents can continue to do their part and follow the necessary measures to prevent the
spread of the virus by:
Wear a face covering when in public
Keep at least six feet away from others
Wash your hands often
Don’t mix with people who don’t live in your household
Stay home if you are sick
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider or one of the
testing locations in Butte County. View a list of testing locations:
www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19/Testing
Learn more about COVID-19 in Butte County: www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19
###
Lisa Almaguer
Communications Manager / PIO
BUTTE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
202 Mira Loma Drive | Oroville, CA 95965
COVID-19CallCenter:530.552.3050Open8am-5pm,M-F
“Nationally Accredited, 09/13/17”
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As families start to plan for the upcoming holiday season beginning with Halloween, it is important to plan early
and identify safer options to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. This ongoing risk requires everyone to
follow necessary precautions. The following measures are necessary to slow the spread: maintain physical
distancing of at least six feet from others, wear a face covering when in public, wash hands often, avoid
gatherings of any size with people from different families, and stay home when sick.
Butte County Public Health recommends that you choose a safer alternative to celebrate Halloween and
discourages in-person methods of trick-or-treating.
Safer Alternatives for Halloween
ŷĻ ƭğŅĻƭƷ ǞğǤ Ʒƚ ĭĻƌĻĬƩğƷĻ IğƌƌƚǞĻĻƓ źƭ ǞźƷŷ ƦĻƚƦƌĻ Ǥƚǒ ƌźǝĻ ǞźƷŷ ƚƩ Ʒƚ ĭĻƌĻĬƩğƷĻ ǝźƩƷǒğƌƌǤ.
Online parties/contests (e.g. costume or pumpkin carving)
Car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle based parades including:
o Drive-by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles and
o Drive-through events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an
area with Halloween displays.
o Drive-in events where individuals can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially
packaged non-perishable treats) or a take away item from an organizer while the
participants remain in their vehicle.
Dressing up homes and yards with Halloween themed decorations.
Halloween movie nights at drive-in theaters - ƒǒƭƷ ĭƚƒƦƌǤ ǞźƷŷ {ƷğƷĻ LƓķǒƭƷƩǤ DǒźķğƓĭĻ ŅƚƩ
CğƒźƌǤ 9ƓƷĻƩƷğźƓƒĻƓƷ /ĻƓƷĻƩƭ͵
Halloween themed art installations at museums - ƒǒƭƷ ĭƚƒƦƌǤ ǞźƷŷ {ƷğƷĻ LƓķǒƭƷƩǤ DǒźķğƓĭĻ ŅƚƩ
aǒƭĻǒƒ͵
Higher Risk Activities Strongly Discouraged for Halloween
Door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended because it can be difficult to maintain proper
physical distancing on sidewalks, porches, and at front doors.
from car-to-car to receive treats is not recommended
because it can be difficult to avoid crowding and maintaining proper physical distancing.
Higher Risk Activities Not Permitted for Halloween
(Gatherings and events prohibited under the State Health Officer Order updated on 9/12/20)
Halloween gatherings, events or parties ƚŅ ğƓǤ ƭźǩĻ with non-household members are not
permitted, even if they are conducted outdoors.
Carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, and haunted house attractions are not permitted.
Personal Protection Measures:
Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween it is important to keep the following in mind:
Correctly wear a face covering to prevent disease spread when outside your home and around
others that are not part of your household. The face covering should cover your nose and
mouth. Certain exemptions apply.
Avoid confined spaces - physical
distancing of at least 6 ft between you and others.
Avoid close contact stay at least 6 feet away (3 or more adult steps) from all other people who
are not part of your own household, especially while talking, eating, drinking, and singing.
Wash or sanitize your hands often.
If you are sick, or you have been in contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19 or has
symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and away from others.
o How to self-quarantine if you have been exposed to COVID-19
o How to self-isolate if you have symptoms of have tested positive for COVID-19