Halloween

officials determined that permitting trick-or-treating would pose a substantial public health risk to the community.

To date, there have been 3,712 cases of COVID-19 among Lowell residents, and a total of 249 new cases reported in the past 14 days. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s weekly dashboard released on Wednesday, Lowell’s average daily incidence rate per 100,000 residents is 16.4, resulting in the city being classified as “red” for the third consecutive week.

Lowell residents are urged to consider public health guidance and to take precautions intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when making alternative plans to celebrate Halloween.

Indoor gatherings including costume parties or haunted houses where

people may be crowded together are considered high risk activities by the CDC, and should be avoided.

Recommended Halloween actives that are considered “lower risk” by the CDC include:

: Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them.

: Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends.

: Decorating your house, apartment, or living space.

: Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things. to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.

: Having a virtual Halloween costume contest.

: Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with.

: Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house.