Ventnor held its first-ever Trunk or Treat event last year.
Downbeach communities have yet to announce if they will allow Trick or Treating this year. However, Gov. Phil Murphy at his coronavirus press conference on Monday said, “Halloween is on.”
The NJ Dept. of Health has released guidance for local officials, schools and organizations to ensure a safe Halloween amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The department is encouraging everyone to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth in addition to any Halloween costume mask.
Instead of placing treats directly into the bags of trick-or-treaters or filling communal bowls that could be touched by many hands, Murphy recommends that treats be arranged in such a way that they can be quickly and safely accessed without multiple pieces being touched.
Murphy said Halloween activities should be held outdoors if possible and subject to gathering limits of 500 people following social distancing protocols. Indoor activities must be limited to 25 people or 25% of room capacity, with all people wearing face masks and staying 6 feet apart.
“You may wish to dress as a knucklehead this Halloween, but we don’t want anyone to act like one,” he said.
The department is also developing guidance for the safe operation of hay rides and corn mazes.
“We know that in numerous communities, Halloween is more than just a fun activity, but a real tradition,” Murphy said. “We want to ensure that everyone has the chance to enjoy Halloween but we also want to ensure that everyone does that safely and responsibly.”
Trick-or-Treating
Those who plan to trick-or-treat should limit their groups to current household members, consider staying local and limit the number of houses on their route.
No one should participate in Halloween activities if they or a household member have a known exposure to COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not yet met the criteria for discontinuing isolation or were told to quarantine.
For those putting out treats:
Best Option is instead of placing treats directly in the bags of trick-or-treaters or filling communal bowls that multiple hands reach into, individually packaged candy should be arranged in a way that they can be easily grabbed without multiple pieces being touched.
You can also leave a treat bowl on a porch or table or in a place where it may be easily accessed while adhering to social distancing requirements
If you are handing out candy, please limit interaction or contact with trick-or-treaters, wear a face covering when individuals come to the door, and regularly wash hands.
Any candy given out should be commercially packaged and non-perishable.
Trunk-or-treating
Limit the number of participating cars to ensure adequate space for social distancing and help minimize crowds.
Ensure the outdoor area has sufficient space per car to avoid overcrowding and to allow adequate space for social distancing.
Follow the outdoor gatherings limitations in effect at the time.
Design the event in a long line, rather than a circle, to ensure social and physical distancing to discourage crowding.
Consider having assigned times or multiple shifts to minimize crowding during the event.
More information will be posted on the NJ Covid-19 website as it becomes available. See https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/slowing-the-spread/how-can-i-safely-trick-or-treat-and-celebrate-halloween
