Ahead of Halloween, public health officials are providing guidance on trick-or-treating and offering ideas for ways to enjoy the holiday that pose a lower risk of contracting the coronavirus.

"The primary message is: It's another day where people have the opportunity to gather in large groups, and that's something we don't want to promote," said Steve Mansfield, director of Ledge Light Health District.

He added, "I think standard trick-or-treating activities are relatively low-risk in the big picture, because they're usually small groups, family groups, that are already together, and by trick-or-treating in neighborhoods, they're by default socially distant most of the time."

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One recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to set up a station with individually bagged treats, and Mansfield said he knows a lot of families have decided to just put out a bowl.

As for parties, Connecticut currently caps indoor private gatherings at 25 people and outdoor ones at 150. A person who hosts a gathering above these limits can be fined $500, while an attendee can be fined $250.

"Just because a holiday is happening doesn't mean that the virus is taking a vacation," Mansfield said.

Patrick McCormack, director of Uncas Health District, said some safe ideas for Halloween activities include virtual costume contests, drive-by events, in-home scavenger hunts and movie nights with people from your household.

He said the majority of events that are concerning to Uncas Health District tend to be organized through social media at the last minute or in a private home. He said if anyone has a complaint about an event in advance, they can call 211.

"If you want the kids to be in school learning, and if you want the businesses to continue to reopen, and you want our events to occur with larger numbers, then we really need to get through this surge in a way where we can start planning for when it ends," McCormack said.

Talking about personal responsibility, he also wants people to remember that they don't want their one night of fun to turn into 14 days of quarantining, possibly without a paycheck.

CDC, DPH give guidance on activities

Along with guidance on trick-or-treating, the CDC has provided guidance on mask-wearing, noting that a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask but also that a costume mask shouldn't be worn over a cloth mask, as that can make breathing more difficult.

The CDC also has rated the risk of different Halloween activities.

Lower-risk activities include carving pumpkins with neighbors or friends outside at a distance, and doing an outdoor scavenger hunt where kids are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for.

Moderate-risk activities are trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are placed outside; having a small group, outdoor costume parade where people are more than 6 feet apart; attending a costume party where masks are worn and people socially distance; visiting pumpkin patches or orchards; and having an outdoor movie night with local family friends. The CDC advises greater distancing if screaming will likely occur.

On a different page, the CDC listed visiting a pumpkin patch or orchard as a Halloween idea.

Under the category of higher-risk activities, the CDC includes crowded indoor costume parties, indoor haunted houses, trunk-or-treat events, trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children and hayrides or tractor rides with people from outside your household.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health rehashed some of the CDC recommendations and provided additional guidance on trick-or-treating.

For those people who do choose to hand out candy, DPH recommends they make sure their face covering is in place and their hands sanitized before opening the door. The department also suggested they place the candy in the child's bag instead of having the child take it from a bowl, and it recommends that kids don't trick-or-treat with people outside their household.

Police offer safety reminders

Town of Groton Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro said his department had been planning on sponsoring a "Covid-conscious Halloween event" in Poquonnock Bridge but canceled it after Groton was put on red alert for coronavirus cases.

"Everybody's been living with this reality for a long time now," he said. "While we understand people want to get back to normal, we also have an obligation to protect one another."

When it comes to state guidelines, Fusaro said police want voluntary compliance and don't want to have to resort to issuing infractions.

He said he's expecting less of a presence from trick-or-treaters, but he and other local police chiefs and spokespeople gave advice for those who are proceeding with trick-or-treating.

New London police Capt. Brian Wright said a parent or guardian should always accompany young children, and children should not consume a treat until it's checked by an adult at home. He advised trick-or-treaters to only go to homes with lights on, wear reflective costumes and use sidewalks.

"What we'll be doing is the same thing we always do: maintaining presence in our neighborhoods, and hopefully keeping kids safe, maintaining visibility," Ledyard police Chief John Rich said. He added, "Our general mission for Halloween really doesn't change. We're going to be visible, we're going to be in our neighborhoods."

Similarly, East Lyme police Chief Michael Finkelstein said his department would have officers out, as it would on any Halloween. But he said there's still a lot of uncertainty and unknowns about how people will respond or whether they'll go out.

He said if there are large parties, police would evaluate them on a case-by-case basis "to see if it's warranted to bring a fine or charges, or if breaking it up is the more effective or more appropriate means."

"I can suggest that people follow what your health district and CDC say," Finkelstein said.

e.moser@theday.com