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

[Hoohum]

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.

[Mascotte]

The law states neither a time limit nor a “one time” by the way.

Getting outside is good for you, get out and enjoy it, just observe the rules on social distancing.

[freelancedolly]

@packetandtripe the reason the infections keep going up is that people haven't been on lockdown for long enough yet to see a flattening of the curve, as the government say every day in their briefings.

The competitive 'how far do we have to go to stick to the rules' banter on MN is quite something to behold. It is not a competition to see how miserable you can make your lives, in order to look down on other people. Most of us are listening to the government (rather than taking instruction from strangers on MN) and following the guidance on social distancing. `Of course it's alright to be out in your garden FFS

[OhTheRoses]

Data as at today. 38,168 cases; 3605 deaths. UK population 66m

38168/66m x 100 = 0.0058%
3605/66m x 100 = 0.0055%

That is a miniscule chance of catching Covid-19 and an equally miniscule chance of dying from it. Obviously higher in London than in the Highlands or Dartmoor.

If, as is expected the numbers dying may double by 7th April and double again by 11th (approximations there rather than 3.5 days) the figures will be around 14400 by 11th April.

14400/66m x 100 = 0.029%

Chance of winning the lottery 1/1m x 100 = 0.0001%.

A lottery win is far less likely than dying from Covid-19 but millions carry on buying lottery tickets.

People's logic is absurd.

Just remember that next time you go to sainsbury's the chance of the person next to you being infectious is infinitesimal. The chance of the person next to you feeling anxious and beginning to suffer with their mental health due to the fears over this is much much higher.

The fears have been whipped, rightly, because the NHS will not cope with an unexpected surge.

[longwayoff]

I'm not sure whether locking myself in the wardrobe or hiding under the bed is best? And what about people passing my front door? Should I be spraying them with disinfectant as they pass? Or should I just report them?

[Pishposhpashy]

longwayoff

[NeverTwerkNaked]

The regulations just say you can go out "to exercise"... They don't give a time limit/daily limit. Obviously everyone should be sensible but getting healthy exercise is important too.

[MedSchoolRat]

how many other are still contagious after 7 days?

After 7 days you're either feeling better or still feeling bad.
Even when still feeling bad the infectious period seems very unlikely to be > 8 days after symptom onset.

Preliminary research

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.15.20036707v2
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.05.20030502v1

[BillywilliamV]

Depends on how you want people to die?

[VegetableMunge]

Kindly meant OP, but I think you would benefit from a walk. Even a quick amble round the block. You sound like you have cabin fever. Your mental health is vital.

[Mohster]

I’m quite astounded that 75% think she is being unreasonable. Mean over 600 died yesterday. Open your eyes see what is actually happening before its you on the ventilator. I know that the govt has downplayed it but people need to see what is happening. I find it bizarre that the thread that I started to try to inform people about it all and ways to prepare has only had 18 people visit it. Pretending its not happening just means its more likely to happen, to you.
Firstly, this virus is passed through touching surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Through droplet – such as sneezes and coughs up to 10 feet away from you. Through aerosolization so its airborne. It can float in a room for 3 hours, it can be carried through air conditioning on gust s of air and spread to you if somebody talks to you through the tiny aerosol bits of spit – just think how much goes on your keyboards etc.

• Its airborne and it enters through your eyes, mouth nose
  The govt lies because they have an agenda – the economy- but at some point people have to take their own responsibility for their lives, its not hard to find you only have to be bothered to look.
  Is it reasonable for these people to have these bbq. Its their lives let them if they want.
  The virus is spread by an affected person for up to 14 days before the person feels ill. The flu virus only spreads after the person is ill with a fever.
  Think if each person can infect 4 people – which at a bbq will likely be a lot more- 1 person will pass it to 4 people and there are no signs he’s not feverish, coughing spluttering or sneezing just the normal person he/she is. Those 4 people will pass it to 16 those 16 to 64- those 64 to 256 how many people are on that bus with you.
  In S. Korea they found that 1 person attending a church spread it to over 1500 through the infections chain of transmission to others within 4 weeks of it starting.
  So yes its their lives- but hey will pass it to 3-4 people just by talking to them as a min. those 3-4 will result in 1000s and 20% will end up in icu and 5% will die.
  So those people aren’t just risking their lives they are risking yours, your families and everyone’s families. Still think its unreasonable. Well when your loved ones are in the queue for a ventilator but told there aren’t any or that they are too old. In Italy they have stated they will not treat anybody over 65 they will sedate them and if they survive so be it. Because of this govt failures at present they are saying we will be seeing greater nos than Italy as on a comparable time frame we are seeing more dying now. Plus all of the ICU beds in wales are occupied by under 50s so nobody is actually safe.
  Your response should have been what can we do to stop these people risking our lives. They may wish to throw the dice on your behalf are you going to let them that is the real question.

[FourTeaFallOut]

Ontheroses those figures would only make sense if everyone had been tested for coronavirus. People with suspected coronavirus have been told to stay at home unless they have severe symptoms. There's not one person who thinks the tested population represents the entirety of the coronavirus population, thank god or the death rate would be through the roof.

[olivehater]

Yeah gove mentioned an hour of the top of his head. For gods sake it isn’t enshrined in law.

[longearedbat]

@OhTheRoses good point, although I bet the sales of lottery tickets have slumped!
I, like others, cannot understand the competitive nature of 'lockdown', (and how I have come to despise that word). Not go in the garden? I have practically lived out there just lately, and I have a backache to prove it. On the plus side I have nearly filled a skip with garden detritus.

[freelancedolly]

Mohster clearly the bbq being referred to is for people living already within a confined household - nobody here is suggesting it's okay for large groups to gather at someone's house. I honestly worry about how many people are losing the plot in quarantine!

[Mohster]

3000 people died yesterday - in NY yesterday doubling from 1500 the day before. Still think there is nothing to worry about let's all go to bbqs this weekend. The govt own figures for >>a good result

[Walkthedinosauuuuur]

The government have had to recommend things because it seems some people are hard of thinking. One form of exercise once per day is a reasonable instruction for most, and most won't abuse the privilege, but some folk seem to think it means completing an Olympic triathlon or driving to the top of Mount everest for a walk.

[Greenpop21]

Yes Gove gave an outline of a reasonable time to be out exercising in response to a journalist asking about people being out for long periods.

[Strongmummy]

Op - you’re being irrational. There is risk attached to doing anything. People need to do what keeps them sane during this difficult time. The chances of you catching it from your neighbour by sitting in your garden is small I’d wager

[CheddarGorgeous]

It is not a competition to see how miserable you can make your lives, in order to look down on other people.

I can't tell you how much I agree with this. Exercise and fresh air is absolutely critical for human health and well-being. We will do nobody any favours if we become even more sedentary than we normally are because of this.

Most people will be able to walk, cycle or run safely. Most people will be able to do body weight exercises in their house and/or garden. If you have a decent gardener you can do more exercise there.

It's so important. For children's healthy growth and development, for older people's strength and stability that will enable them to live independently in later life.

[Scruffyoak]

We have tried to go for a long walk or cycle. If I go to work I park down the road and walk into work as don't have time to go out on those days. I feel like not walking etc would be a big risk to my mental health.

[Baboomtsk]

@OhTheRoses those are only the confirmed cases. Given that the majority of those who catch it will suffer only mild symptoms and will not seek or receive medical assistance, the number of actual cases is likely many times higher.

[Greenpop21]

Going to a bbq is different to barbecuing your own food in your own garden.

[CheddarGorgeous]

Garden, not gardener

[freelancedolly]

Mohster where are you getting these figures from? Yesterday in the whole of the States c.1300 people died; with 680 of them being in NY. And once again - nobody is suggesting we should travel to other people's houses for barbecues. We're talking about individual households having the temerity to think they can go into their own gardens and cook a burger.

[freelancedolly]

CheddarGorgeous - totally agree.

I can't tell you how much I agree with this. Exercise and fresh air is absolutely critical for human health and well-being. We will do nobody any favours if we become even more sedentary than we normally are because of this.

• as evidenced by the MN posts of those who are clearly not getting any fresh air whatsoever