This week, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly emphasized the importance of following the stateâs public health guidelines during the upcoming October holidays. The stateâs Department of Public Health has updated its Guidance for Small Gatherings and published new Guidance for Safer Halloween and Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Although the updated guidance allows for small gatherings, many traditional holiday celebrations such as trick-or-treating are strongly discouraged.
With Halloween just around the corner, here are guidelines from SFGov.org to keep everyone safe this year:
Please refer to the Safer Halloween website for more information.
New harm reduction guidance has also been created in anticipation of small gatherings occurring more frequently during the fall and winter holidays. Here is a summary of the Updated Stateâs Guidance for Small Gatherings (10/10/20) and ways to reduce risk of COVID in small gatherings:
- Wear face coverings
- Stay socially distanced
- Practice hand hygiene
- Stay at home if sick or at higher risk of severe illness
- New additions to the guidance:
- Gatherings with no more than three separate households
- Limit to two hours or less
- Must be held outside
- Guidance does not mean go socialize
Additional updates and guidance can be found at:
- Guidance for social events during COVID (San Francisco Department of Public Health)
- Californiaâs Blueprint for a Safer Economy: Many counties have shown substantial progress in decreasing COVID-19 transmissions.