To help ensure a safe Halloween for all New Jerseyans, the state Department of Health has released health and safety guidance for local officials, schools, organizations and families. The guidance comes at an important time, the Ocean County Health Department points out, as the region has experienced a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and even been described as the state’s “hot spot.”

“As a community, we can’t let Halloween become a one-day vacation from keeping up with the COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, wearing protective face coverings…