“We are following the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines on trick-or-treating,” he said during a media briefing Friday on KKMP radio.
He said there have been discussions between the task force, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, and the administration on recommendations from the community regarding trick-or-treating in the village or residential areas.
“Basically, there are quite a few lengthy protective measures when we get into trick-or-treating, not just the interaction but also the packing and bagging of candies,” he added.
He said guidelines on how the candies are prepared, along with guidelines on parental supervision, are the main emphasis of these trick-or-treating protective measures.
Social, behavioral, and mental health impacts are also taken into account with these Covid-19 mitigation efforts, Villagomez said.
To make trick-or-treating safe for everyone, the CDC recommends that everyone wear a mask, frequently wash and sanitize their hands, and stay at least six feet away from others who do not live in their household.
A costume mask is not considered a safe face covering, so cloth masks are highly encouraged.
It is also highly recommended to bring a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and to use it after touching objects or other people.
Before eating any treats, community members should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.
When distributing candy to trick-or-treaters, the CDC recommends avoiding direct contact, giving out treats outdoors, setting up a station with individually bagged treats, washing and sanitizing hands before handling treats, and wearing a mask.
Safe Halloween activities recommended by the CDC include hiding treats around the house and having a scavenger hunt with family members, and having a movie night with family members while enjoying all of their Halloween treats.
Halloween activities that the CDC considers as “high risk” include going to an indoor haunted house where it may be crowded and people may be screaming, as well as attending crowded, indoor costume parties.
There are a number of Halloween activities planned throughout the island, and these include “Halloween Happy Hour” at the Pacific Islands Club from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday; and the “Grab n’ Go Trick or Treat” events in San Roque and Tanapag courtesy of the office of Rep. Sheila Babauta. These are in line with the social distancing directives put out by the administration and the CDC.
Stations will be tagged with numbers and pink ribbons along a one-way route in which treats will be handed out by volunteers equipped with face masks and hand sanitizers.
Handing out candies from cars is also permitted, as long as CDC guidelines are followed.
