Will a Halloween Mask Protect You From COVID?

Will a Halloween Mask Protect You From COVID?
Photo: esthermm (Shutterstock)

New CDC guidelines are out with recommendations for fall and winter holiday celebrations—including Halloween. Many of the recommendations will sound familiar: Indoor gatherings are generally more risky than outdoor gatherings. The longer the duration and bigger the group of people, the higher the risk. Traveling is riskier than keeping it local. Get your flu shot. Etc. But if you do decide to take the kids trick-or-treating this Halloween, the CDC has offered some guidelines about masks.

Specifically, the CDC says you should not use costume masks in place of cloth masks—and using both could be dangerous:

Do not use a costume mask (such as for Halloween) as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around your face.Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

The CDC also recommends several other lower-risk alternatives for celebrating Halloween, including:

Carving or decorating pumpkinsPlanning a Halloween scavenger hunt in the neighborhood or within the homeHosting a virtual costume contestHaving a family Halloween movie night

Also, remember that any CDC recommendations are meant to supplement, not replace, any local safety laws, rules or regulations that you must comply with.

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