If you are not sure what to do, this is the advice from Thames Valley Police and RBWM...
Unfortunately due to Covid 19, we do not recommend anyone partake in Trick or Treat this year. There is the difficulty of ‘fomites’ - virus particles left on surfaces - such as shiny sweet packets. Just as with door handles / hand rails. If you going to participate, think about not having a container of sweets for children to reach into, possibly contaminating other sweets. One person has come up with a possible solution, they are putting up a washing line from their front door to the pavement and hanging the sweet packets on it.
Children cannot of course touch doorbells, or use door knockers ???
It is another unavoidable consequence of the Pandemic this year.
This is the advice from RBWM:
Some Halloween activities carry more risk than others. Reduce the risk for you, your children and others while still having fun.
High risk activities
Trick or treating where children go door-to-door and treats are given out.
Parties of more than six people.
Do not substitute your facemask with a Halloween mask as this will not keep you safe.
Low risk activities you can enjoy
Have a pumpkin trail in your street, town or village - have fun with the children either carving or drawing pumpkins and place them in your window. Neighbouring children can have fun pumpkin spotting. You could give your children a prize for the number of pumpkins they spot.
Have a virtual pumpkin carving competition with your friends - carve your pumpkins at home and share the results via Zoom, Google or Skype.
Have fun decorating your house to make it look spooktacular! - there are lots of templates and crafting ideas on the BBC website.
Have a Halloween scavenger hunt - give your children a list of Halloween themed things to look for on their walk. Spiders or cobwebs for example. You can also do this in your home and hide some treats and spooky surprises instead!
Have a Halloween movie night at home - even for very young children there are some family favourites. Bake some Halloween treats to make it a special occasion, there are some great Halloween recipes on the BBC website and they even have recipes for Halloween biscuits!
Remember the safety guidelines:
If you’re hosting an activity it is safer outdoors - Keep to the rule of six and remember hands, face, space.
Remember that the longer you are with other people the higher the risk.
Maintain physical distance from people you don’t live with.
If you have COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19, you must self-isolate and should not take part in any activities, or hand out treats.
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