Due to COVID-19 concerns, this year’s Halloween and trick-or-treating festivities will look different if L.A. County’s regulations continue through October 31.

L.A. County Public Health released guidelines for this coming Halloween and short of decorating your home in a Halloween theme, most traditional activities will either not be permitted, or not recommended.

Halloween carnivals, festivals, live entertainment, haunted houses, gatherings and parties with non-household members have been listed by Public Health as “not permitted,” even if they are outdoors.

While Public health originally had  trick-or-treating on its “not permitted” list, it has lessened the restriction to “not recommended.”

“… it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors,” the Public Health guidelines stated.

The guidelines also noted that it is “too risky” to engage in door-to-door trick-or-treating as face covering usage would be difficult to regulate.

The act of “trunk-or-treating” is also not recommended. Trunk-or-treating has become a more recent alternative where communities gather in parking lots with decorated car trunks, providing a more regulated trick-or-treating experience for their children.

As far as what will be allowed this Halloween, Public Health suggested several alternative activities such as Halloween-themed movie nights at drive-ins, physically distanced car parades, drive-thru events where all participants remain in their cars and  Halloween-themed art installations at outdoor museums.

Outdoor dining will also still be allowed, to which Halloween-themed outdoor dinners may be permitted.

All of these activities must abide by the corresponding guidelines, such as dining, museum, drive-in movie theater and car parade regulations.

For those who would rather not go out for Halloween, video call activities were suggested, as well.

While Halloween will come with regulations, Public Health Director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, said she is “hopeful” that community transmission rates will be lower by Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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