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Melania Trump announces White House Halloween with face masks required for all over age 2

Halloween must go on at the White House, pandemic or not. But face-mask skeptics should stay home.

The morning after her return to public view at the last presidential debate of 2020, first lady Melania Trump announced Friday that the annual Halloween celebrations at the White House will take place Sunday under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions including social distancing and required face masks for all guests over the age of 2.

"The White House grounds will open to ghosts, fairies, superheroes, tiny goblins and other costumed trick-or-treaters as celebrations commence for the Trump Administration’s fourth annual Halloween festivities at the White House," the East Wing announced in a press release.

The gates will open to frontline workers, military families and schoolchildren, accompanied by their parents, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT.

With her usual attention to décor and design details, Trump said in her statement that this year's Halloween will feature "a vibrant display of bright-colored leaves that will envelop the South Portico columns in various shades of autumn.

First lady Melania Trump walks to her seat at the final presidential debate, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
First lady Melania Trump walks to her seat at the final presidential debate, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

"An array of chrysanthemums will also cascade down the East and West staircases, presenting subtle highlights of nature’s beauty and will be intermixed with festive pumpkins waiting to greet an audience of costumed trick-or-treaters."

Much of the festivities will resemble previous years and administrations. President Donald Trump and the first lady will greet trick-or-treaters as they pass by the South Portico of the executive mansion.

As usual, several federal departments and agencies will be there to offer a variety of activities and goodies for the kids.

NASA will have space-related items on display, including an inflatable rocket. Children will be able to wave hello to Smokey the Bear at the Department of Agriculture station, and pick up a Junior Ranger badge and paper ranger hat at the Department of Interior station. The Department of Transportation will have model rockets on display and paper airplanes for kids to take home.

First lady Melania Trump with President Donald Trump after the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 22, 2020.
First lady Melania Trump with President Donald Trump after the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 22, 2020.

Meanwhile, the United States Air Force Strolling Strings will provide music, including traditional Halloween songs and modern tunes.

"Extra precautions" will prevail, the East Wing statement said.

Besides the requirements for social distancing and the wearing of masks by all guests and staff, the number of guests will be limited, hand sanitizer will be available throughout, and each department will practice a "no-touch approach" when distributing their gifts to kids.

The first lady, recovered from a bout with COVID-19, returned to the spotlight Thursday, two days after canceling her first campaign rally appearance in months, citing a lingering cough.

Trump accompanied her husband to Nashville for the last presidential debate of the 2020 election, dressed in a sleeveless black Dior shirtdress and her usual towering heels.

She was not wearing a mask when she emerged from the White House but she donned a black one when she entered and took her seat in the hall at Belmont University.

This was Trump's first appearance in public since she and the president tested positive for the coronavirus on Oct. 2. She said in tweets and public statements she had some symptoms but did not go to the hospital, in contrast to the president who spent three nights being treated for COVID.

This week, she was due to return to the campaign trail in Erie, Pennsylvania, when she was scheduled to attend one of the rallies he's been appearing at around the country in recent days.

At the last minute, the first lady's spokeswoman and chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, said she was cancelling because she still had a cough.

Halloween on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 28, 2019.
Halloween on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 28, 2019.

"Mrs. Trump continues to feel better every day following her recovery from COVID-19, but with a lingering cough, and out of an abundance of caution, she will not be traveling today," Grisham said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Trump, a low-key first lady, has not gone to a campaign rally for more than a year. Her last public appearance related to the campaign was on Sept. 29 at the first presidential debate in Cleveland.

She also was largely absent for most of the 2016 campaign, choosing to stay at home in Trump Tower in New York with their son Barron, who was then only 10.

The first lady has been noticeably more pro-mask than her husband or other figures in his administration, having posted tweet messages and videos urging people to follow CDC guidelines about wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus.

But she has not worn a mask in every single instance since the pandemic curtailed her schedule of appearances even more than usual.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melania Trump Halloween at White House: Face masks required over age 2