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AIBU?

Is it really safe for everybody to be out in the garden/exercising daily?

183 replies

Hoohum · 04/04/2020 03:28

I have seen a lot of posts about how people are going to be having BBQS this weekend due to nice weather. My question is, is it really completely safe to do so?

I’m more referring to houses that are situated close together but I don’t really see how high numbers of people out in their gardens eating food is much different to high numbers of people having a picnic in a field (with a 2 metre distance)?

I am aware the virus is not airborne at certain proximities But people are still catching virus even with lockdown.

I also wonder about the daily one hour exercise allowance. My step son has been going out for daily walks and playing in the garden but other than that has been completely isolated from people and has been at home with his mum. However, he has now developed a cold and a cough. Even if this is not the Coronavirus he has obviously picked germs up from somewhere?

Do you think it is completely safe to be leaving the house? I have probably become quite irrational and we do not leave the house at all other than the twice we have needed to shop in 3 weeks.

I sort of think that the daily allowance of exercise has been put in place to throw people a bone and help with overall isolation adherence, rather than it being completely risk free.

OP posts:

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Palegreenstars · 04/04/2020 03:35

No but it’s not completely safe to stay on the house all the tome for everyone. Each decision you make has an element of risk so you have to weigh them up as you live your life.
Those who are shielding aren’t going out even for exercise as it’s so important they don’t get it.

iVampire · 04/04/2020 03:39

I’m in the ‘shield’ group (exceptionally vulnerable) and have been getting the texts (as well as the letter) for this group

One of the texts includes this well-being recommendation;
’Spending time with the windows open to let in fresh air, sit and look out at the world where you can, or get out into the garden or sit on your doorstep if you can’

Now I can only do that alone or with other fully isolated/shielding members of my household, if your household have all been strict about distancing/isolation, I don’t see why you cannot use your garden together

Going out got exercise is fine - going out to hang out outdoors is not fine

If you think DC are getting enough exercise in the garden, you don’t have to go out got more

joystir59 · 04/04/2020 03:43

I walk the dog every day, go to work every day, and get meds and food for our household. I'm shielding a very vulnerable OJ and looking after a vulnerable elderly mil. I would be unwell mentally without the daily walk. I could well do without going to work/pharmacy/shops but there is no one else.

Gingerkittykat · 04/04/2020 03:49

Nothing is completely risk free, I'm sure most people can manage to have a decent distance between each other in separate gardens.

The daily exercise is low risk as long as you keep your distance from people. There are loads of risks from being inactive for a prolonged period of time, fitness and strength decline really quickly.

Hoohum · 04/04/2020 04:11

I suppose it is counter productive in many ways to limit exercise and garden time.

I’m probably somebody who needs to get out myself!

God, I just want this to be over and done with quickly, as I’m sure everybody does.

OP posts:
Sameold2020 · 04/04/2020 04:35

It's not an hour exercise either.

mooboy · 04/04/2020 05:09

I’m more worried about the advice to self isolate for 7 days if you have symptoms - look at Boris Johnson - no one is convinced he’s safe to be around (normally too!) - so he’s still self isolating but how many other are still contagious after 7 days? I’m not hearing any other strong message coming from the Gov other than the 7 days if you live alone - it’s got to be longer than that for more people than just Boris.

packetandtripe · 04/04/2020 05:09

But people are still catching virus even with lockdown

You are doing the right thing OP, as are many you can see. The reason the virus will keep going up and up is because for every person who is doing the right thing, there is a selfish arsehole who isn't. Being out in your own garden is fine.

Kintsugi16 · 04/04/2020 05:09

You can get this by staying inside too.

It lives on surfaces so anything entering the home can harbour it. Bag handles, food packaging etc. Outdoor exercise is far less risky than a trip to the supermarket etc.

This is why it's important to wash packaging/loose food, wash hands regularly and stop touching your face.

Amatteroftime · 04/04/2020 05:25

People are still catching in now because of the incubation period, they could well have been carrying it before lockdown. The gov did say it would spike around about now.

I'd have gone insane by now if I didn't have my garden.

I think a lot of people sre misinterpreting the daily exercise. I see lots of elderly people out on benches reading, eating sandwiches, because it is on a small walk. IMO if you are stopping for lunch, it isn't exercise.

Lenny1980 · 04/04/2020 05:31

The advice is not to isolate for only 7 days and that’s it. If you still have a temperature the advice is to continue self isolating, which is what Boris is doing. But most people with a very mild case will no longer have a temperature by that stage.

If it was important to wash packaging then PHE would advise that. They don’t. They advise regular hand washing and disposing of any packaging that may be a risk.

mooboy · 04/04/2020 05:48

The reason the virus will keep going up and up is because for every person who is doing the right thing, there is a selfish arsehole who isn't. Being out in your own garden is fine. The lack of PPE for healthcare workers doesn’t help - the carers who visit my vulnerable 87year old parents who don’t have PPE and visit up to 20 homes in a short space of time, different carers every day too - nothing to do with it? Even if everyone had done the lockdown - there are still areas we need to tighten up on and it mostly revolves around PPE for Key workers. Hopefully more will start getting distributed very soon.

IvinghoeBeacon · 04/04/2020 06:04

Depends on your version of “safe”. If your aim is to keep everyone in your household free from the virus forever then the risks with daily exercise and going into the garden are low, but not eradicated, and you would have to keep lockdown going forever, so you may need to find a way to manage your anxiety around this. For some people, eg children in abusive homes, being trapped within their own home for weeks on end is the least “safe” option for them.

BoomBoomsCousin · 04/04/2020 06:10

Nothing is completely risk free. YABU to frame it as though that is the goal.

Reginabambina · 04/04/2020 06:14

Well on an individual level there isn’t really much risk for a healthy person from the virus in the first place. Unless you have a reason to attempt to avoid catching it altogether I wouldn’t really worry about it too much. The social distancing measures were put in place to ease pressure on the NHS not prevent individual infection.

NoNeedToBeRudeDear · 04/04/2020 06:23

It’s not an hours exercise. It’s ONE form of exercise a day!

I keep seeing this hours exercise thing getting mentioned. Where are people getting it from? There’s nothing on gov.uk at all that mentions a time limit?

Oysterbabe · 04/04/2020 06:37

I don't think there's any risk of being in our garden. There's a massive hedge and fence between us and our only neighbour and we're not going to be within 2 metres of them. When I go for my run I don't touch anything except the ground with my feet and don't go near anyone else. Not going out at all would probably decrease the risk by a tiny, tiny amount but wouldn't be worth the sacrifice. My children are 2 and 4 and don't understand why their world has changed so much. Playing on the trampoline and picnics in the garden have been an absolute life saver, thank god for this spell of good weather coinciding with the lockdown. We're planning a BBQ on Sunday because it'll be fun and we really need some fun.

mooboy · 04/04/2020 06:37

Gove mentioned an hour as a reasonable time for a walk 30min for a cycle ride.

Wakeupsunshine · 04/04/2020 06:38

I think it depends on the size of your garden and how close you are to neighbours.

I have a very small garden and live in a terraced house. There was someone coughing on their balcony next door but one the other day and it felt too close to be safe.

myself2020 · 04/04/2020 06:49

Not going outside at all for weeks on end is quite likely to severely damage you as well— no exercise and no sunlight will do awful things to your body and your mental health. while there is a tiny coronavirus risk from going outside in a sensible manner, there is a massive risk of not going outside at allif you can!

Bellesavage · 04/04/2020 06:53

It's highly likely your step son has hayfever

Cacaca · 04/04/2020 06:54

Where are you getting the 1 hour of exercise from? You are allowed out of the house for one form of exercise daily. No time limit has been set on this.

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hibeat · 04/04/2020 06:56

Fresh air, and sunlight keeps you in good health, short and long term. You need vitamine D to have a good working immune system, you only have it with the sun. Keeping yourself in working order is the goal. You do not have to put yourself at risk to do that. You can manage the 2m distancing rule. Do as much as you can for yourself. If you have to stay inside, you can still try your best to get some sun from inside the house, and exercise inside. DOrctor's orders are doctors orders.

Alsohuman · 04/04/2020 07:16

keep seeing this hours exercise thing getting mentioned. Where are people getting it from?

Michael Gove said it in a press briefing earlier this week.

caperberries · 04/04/2020 07:18

I've been thinking about this, especially in light of reports that the virus is airborne.

I went for a run last night, and a couple of times I ran through (faint) cigarette smoke, presumably from people smoking in their garden. It made me wonder: if cigarette smoke can travel on the breeze like that - can the virus do the same thing?

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