ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The coronavirus pandemic continues to present challenges at every turn, and trick-or-treating is no exception.

Monroe County Public Health Commissioner previously stated that trick-or-treating could happen for families this year, as long as proper safety precautions were put in place.

“We’re lucky that our infection rate is relatively low here, and going into Halloween, I think there are ways we can have trick-or-treating — and do so safely,” Dr. Mendoza said in late September.

This week, the Monroe County Department of Public Health has been releasing a list of recommendations to do just that:

Masks

Do — Wear a proper mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are trick-or-treating, or handing out candy. Make sure the mask stays dry.

Don’t — Wear a consume mask unless you also have a snug-fitting proper mask on beneath it and can breath easily.

Distancing

Do — Stay at least six feet away from others who are not in your household.

Don’t — Gather in large groups, or host big parties, especially indoors.

Candy distribution

Do — Wash or sanitize your hands often when you are handing out candy or filling goody bags. Clean frequently touched surfaces, like the doorbell, throughout the evening.

Don’t — Use a big bowl to distribute candy. Instead, the homeowner should drop treats into each child’s bag or line pieces up on the driveway or a table.

Sanitize and symptom monitoring

Do — Wash or sanitize your hands before you take off your mask and start eating your candy.

Don’t — Trick-or-treat or hand out candy if you are sick, in isolation, or mandatory quarantine, or are considered to be at high risk for developing sever symptoms of COVID-19.

A reminder

Do’s

• Wear a proper mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are trick-or-treating, or handing out candy. Make sure the mask stays dry.
• Stay at least six feet away from others who are not in your household.
• Wash or sanitize your hands often when you are handing out candy or filling goody bags. Clean frequently touched surfaces, like the doorbell, throughout the evening.
• Wash or sanitize your hands before you take off your mask and start eating your candy.

Don’ts

• Wear a consume mask unless you also have a snug-fitting proper mask on beneath it and can breath easily.
• Gather in large groups, or host big parties, especially indoors.
• Use a big bowl to distribute candy. Instead, the homeowner should drop treats into each child’s bag or line pieces up on the driveway or a table.
• Trick-or-treat or hand out candy if you are sick, in isolation, or mandatory quarantine, or are considered to be at high risk for developing sever symptoms of COVID-19.

Check back with News 8 WROC as we will continue to update this developing story with more local health and safety guidelines for Halloween 2020.