FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CARBONDALE – Due to Governor Pritzker’s announcement today that additional COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be applied to Region 5 effective October 22, the City of Carbondale is now discouraging door-to-door trick-or-treating. Our region has exceeded the Illinois Department of Public Health’s criteria for added restrictions by sustaining a positivity rate above 8% for three consecutive days, resulting in new measures to curtail further spread. The City of Carbondale encourages all residents to take every available precaution to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The City of Carbondale understands this tradition is one families look forward to, so if you do decide to trick-or-treat between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on October 31, 2020, please adhere to all of the safety guidelines from the IDPH, which are as follows:
- Anyone participating in trick-or-treating, including those passing out candy, should maintain 6-feet of social distance and wear proper face coverings.
- Consider leaving individually wrapped candy (spaced apart) on a table in driveways or in front of walkways, sidewalks, or any outdoor space where 6-feet of distance can be maintained.
- A Halloween costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask. Ensure that breathing is not impaired if a cloth mask is worn under a costume mask. If so, discard the costume mask.
- Trick-or-treat in groups with household members only.
- Candy collected during trick-or-treating should not be eaten until after handwashing.
Suppose residents plan to hand out candy or participate in trick-or-treating. In that case, the City asks residents to find creative ways to safely hand out candy while maintaining social distance, i.e., candy slides, goody bags on a string, etc. We also ask that both trick-or-treaters and those handing out candy wear face masks during all interactions.
As an alternative to trick-or-treating, celebrate Halloween with the City by participating in our virtual contests! Decorate your home or business for Halloween and enter to win our Halloween Decorating Contest. The winner will receive a $50 gift card to Ace Hardware and a yard sign to proudly display. We are also hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest and Face Mask Decorating Contest. For more information on these contests, visit https://explorecarbondale.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1610. Submit contest entries by October 26, 2020.
The City of Carbondale asks that social gatherings, such as costume or Halloween parties, not take place this year unless six feet of social distance can be maintained and masks are worn at all times. Under the newest mitigations, restrict gatherings to no more than 25 guests.
For more information, call Public Relations Officer Roni LeForge at 618-559-1939.
“Carbondale prides itself on providing its visitors, students, businesses and residents with a unique mix of edge and ease. It’s a cultural town, yet free of pretense, embracing the great outdoors as readily as urban sophistication. Here, we are open to new ideas, experiences and cultures, so you are encouraged to both express yourself and be yourself, in all ways. That’s Carbondale…All Ways Open… for family, fun, business, new ideas and a bright tomorrow.”
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