MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler asks for the public’s help to make sure everyone has a healthy and safe Halloween.

“Halloween activities, including trick-or-treating, must be done in a safe way to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Schuyler said.

Here are some creative ideas to celebrate Halloween, have fun with people that live in their household, and keep your a family safe:

¯ Decorate a family’s house or apartment,

¯ Decorate and carve pumpkins,

¯ Play Halloween-themed games,

¯ Watch spooky movies,

¯ Trick-or-treat through one’s house – room by room,

¯ Have a backyard scavenger hunt,

¯ Organize a virtual Halloween costume party,

¯ Have an open-air, outdoor costume parade where people are 6 feet apart.

Those who are planning to celebrate outside the can use the following tips to stay healthy:

¯ Don’t enter other people’s homes,

¯ Only give out, or pick up, commercially wrapped treats that are sealed,

¯ Consider non-candy Halloween treats – glittery stickers, magnets, temporary tattoos, pencils, bookmarks, glow sticks, mini notebooks,

¯ Supply grab-and-go individually wrapped treats on a table outside your home/apartment building (6 feet away from the door), so children and families stay outside,

¯ Trick-or-treat with family members, and stay 6 feet away from others,

¯ Stay away from crowded streets or neighborhoods,

¯ Wear a face covering if over the age of 2 and able to medically tolerate one – most Halloween masks won’t be sufficient to meet state Health Department guidance (two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face), so skip the costume mask and incorporate a face covering into a costume. Don’t wear a face covering under a Halloween mask, as it may be hard to breathe.

¯ Wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before, during, and after Halloween activities!

Do not trick-or-treat or leave out candy if are sick or live with someone who is sick. Do not host or attend a party or large indoor gathering. Events lasting several hours or that have people who have traveled from areas of high COVID-19 transmission puts a family at risk. Do not stay anywhere that people are gathering in large groups, not wearing face coverings, or staying socially distanced. Leave and find a safer way to celebrate.

For more information about safe fall and winter holiday celebrations, visit chqgov.com and click on COVID-19 Information.