Halloween in the Shadow of the COVİD-19

 Halloween, celebrated every year on October 31, has become a secular celebration today, although it has first Pagan and then Christian roots. It is a feast where children, often dressed in gruesome costumes, go door to door collecting sweets and pocket money. Other Halloween celebrations include masquerades, pumpkin lantern carving, horror film sessions and trips to homes believed to be haunted. Halloween is celebrated in countries and regions, mainly in North America and the British Isles. Halloween celebrations, which are quite a large and majestic festival in these regions, are widespread in Japan, the Philippines and Latin America, as well as other Western countries in Europe and Oceania, due to the influence of American culture. Like Halloween, many holidays, festivals , concerts have been postponed or cancelled to later dates under COVID-19 measures. Halloween has also been cancelled in many countries, so it seems that this year we will have to celebrate in homes in terms of our health .Event organizers and local officials are redesigning Halloween events after officials at the CDC issued new guidelines.Following Los Angeles County, many health officials in the South, Midwest and New England are encouraging local residents to avoid traditional sugar or treatment activities.

There are several factors that contribute to the risk of getting infected or infecting others with the virus that causes COVID-19 at a holiday celebration. In combination, these factors will create various amounts of risk, so it is important to consider them individually and together:

·         Community levels of COVID-19 – Higher levels of COVID-19 cases and community spread in the gathering location, as well as where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees. Family and friends should consider the number and rate of COVID-19 cases in their community and in the community where they plan to celebrate when considering whether to host or attend a holiday celebration. Information on the number of cases in an area can be found on the area’s health 
department website.

·         The location of the gathering – Indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings with poor ventilation pose more risk than those with good ventilation, such as those with open windows or doors.

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·         The number of people at the gathering – Gatherings with more people pose more risk than gatherings with fewer people. CDC does not have a limit or recommend a specific number of attendees for gatherings. The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees, the risk of spread between attendees, and state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.

·         The locations attendees are traveling from – Gatherings with attendees who are traveling from different places pose a higher risk than gatherings with attendees who live in the same area. Higher levels of COVID-19 cases and community spread in the gathering location, or where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees.

·         The behaviors of attendees prior to the gathering – Gatherings with attendees who are not adhering to social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart), mask wearing, hand washing, and other prevention behaviors pose more risk than gatherings with attendees who are engaging in these preventative behaviors.

·         The behaviors of attendees during the gathering – Gatherings with more preventive measures in place, such as mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing, pose less risk than gatherings where fewer or no preventive measures are being implemented.

People Who Should Not Attend The Celebrations:

People with or exposed to COVID-19
Do not host or participate in any in-person festivities if you or anyone in your household

·         Has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others

·         Has symptoms of COVID-19

·         Is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results

·         May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days

·         Is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19

People at increased risk for severe illness
If you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should

·         Avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household.

·         Avoid larger gatherings and consider attending activities that pose lower risk if you decide to attend an in-person gathering with people who do not live in your household.