Hello friend,
Earlier this week I announced that there will be Halloween this year. In times like this, we need fun, levity, and a sense of community more than ever.
Like everything else, it will look different. We’ll all need to make some changes and take extra precautions, but we can still make this a fun, safe evening for our kids.
I want to encourage everyone to be safe and thoughtful about how you celebrate. If you have an older relative at home, or you live in a higher-density community, consider staying home and watching a movie, or doing a virtual pumpkin carving with friends.
If you go out and it’s crowded, turn around. Let’s all be safe and make sure the choices we make on Halloween don’t result in the need for new restrictions a couple weeks later. If you do go out to trick-or-treat, here’s some guidance for you:
For trick-or-treaters: The first rule of Halloween (and all of our activities) is that if you are feeling sick, you have to stay home.
That includes both parents and kids. No amount of candy is worth the risk of getting someone sick. You should check in with your children before you leave the house to make sure they any COVID-19 symptoms.
When you do go trick-or-treating, only go with the people you are already in regular contact with instead of introducing new people into your pod.
Make sure you bring hand sanitizer as well to use between houses, and wear a cloth mask.
This has to be the same mask you wear normally — your costume mask is not designed to contain airborne particles, and it will not keep you or your neighbors safe.
For those handing out treats: We can’t open the door and offer a shared bowl for kids to stick their hands inside.
Leave individually wrapped goodie bags or single pieces of candy out for kids to take while you stay inside.
Make sure you wash your hands before putting out anything for kids to touch.
We’ve posted guidance online about Halloween and about fall activities more generally, such as apple picking, farmer’s markets, and hayrides. You can find all of this guidance on ReopeningRI.com under Parks and Recreation.
Please start making a plan now about how you’ll celebrate Halloween in a safe, fun way. And as always, feel free to email me and let me know about what you’re planning!
We’re all in this together.
-Gina Raimondo
Governor
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