Here's How the City of San Angelo Recommends You Spend Halloween

SAN ANGELO, TX – Plan on having a traditional Halloween in 2020? Well think again.

The following is a press release sent out by the City of San Angelo on September 29: 

Trick or Treating:
We want everyone to have a spooktacular time this Halloween, but we also need everyone’s help to ensure we all stay safe while having fun. The City would like to remind everyone that we do not schedule times or dates for Halloween or trick-or-treating – that is up to each individual. If you do go trick-or-treating, then we ask that everyone wear a mask, remember to practice social distancing from people who are not from your immediate household and make sure you wash your hands once you get home. If you are sick or not feeling well, then please stay home. The CDC recommends one-way trick-or-treating in which individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard). You could also have a container of candy available with hand sanitizer next to it for trick-or-treaters to use once they have finished stopping by your house. 

Gatherings:
For large outdoor events with more than 10 people expected, organizers need to submit a plan to the city to be approved by the county judge, mayor or local health authority. Plans should be submitted to the health department at [email protected]. All individuals must wear a face covering over the nose and mouth whenever it is not feasible to maintain social distancing from others.

Haunted houses : 

Prior to utilizing any structure for the purposes of a special amusement building, the owner/operator should contact the San Angelo Permits Office at 325-657-4210 and make sure that the building can be permitted and is properly zoned for the use of a special amusement building (Haunted House). A temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) may be issued by the permits office; however, all requirements in the fire code must be met. Once allowed, the largest issue that comes up when performing inspections on special amusement buildings, such as haunted houses, is that they most often require fire protection systems. Some of the main issues encountered in these occupancies include a lack of fire alarm notification, sprinkler systems and exit signs. View the full document here. 

Guidance from the CDC for Halloween

Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or 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.

Lower risk activities - These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Moderate risk activities

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
  • If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than six feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than six feet apart
  • A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
  • Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween- themed cloth mask.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
  • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least six feet apart
  • If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
  • Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

Higher risk activities - Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19