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MURFREESBORO – Traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating is discouraged this year in Murfreesboro in order to keep residents safe while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Murfreesboro Police Chief David Griffith told the News Herald the town is instead encouraging people to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for the holiday this year.

According to those guidelines, activities with the lowest risk of spreading the virus include pumpkin carving at home or with neighbors at a safe distance, putting up Halloween decorations, doing a Halloween scavenger hunt, holding a virtual costume contest, or hosting a movie night with the people you live with.

Moderate risk activities include passing out goodie bags for trick-or-treaters while social distancing, holding a small outdoor costume parade, attending an outdoor costume party where social distancing is possible, and going to an outdoor haunted forest where masks are required.

The higher risk activities are listed as traditional trick-or-treating, hosting a trunk-or-treat event, attending crowded indoor costume parties, and going to an indoor haunted house. All of those high-risk of activities are discouraged in order to maintain the health and safety of the community this year.

The CDC guidelines also note that a costume mask is not a safe substitute for a cloth mask, and wearing both a cloth mask and costume mask can be dangerous. Instead, the guidelines recommend simply wearing a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

Chief Griffith acknowledged that traditional Halloween activities aren’t prohibited in the town, but they strongly encourage people to follow safety precautions if they do choose to go trick-or-treating this year.

“Wear your mask, wear your gloves, continue to socially distance yourself as best as possible,” he said, also encouraging sanitizing after meeting people.

He also suggested those who don’t want trick-or-treaters to come to their house should keep their porch lights off and doors closed during the normal trick-or-treat hours on Oct. 31.