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Original poster

To clarify the one hour of exercise 'rule'

426 replies

Itstheprinciple · 14/04/2020 12:19

I've seen this mentioned on so many posts and I've seen people clarify it within the post but I've not seen a specific post about it. I thought this could help people who seem confused about what is 'allowed'.

Michael Gove was asked on the Andrew Marr show what he considered to be reasonable exercise. This is his response:

"I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate."

So it is not a hard and fast rule or law. No one is standing with a stopwatch as it gets to 59 mins. It's guidance and it will vary between individuals as Mr Gove says himself.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2020 10:47

If you out for a run it is highly unlikely you are infected

Unfortunately that isn't true - there was a 'superspreader' identified in Italy who was an asymptomatic marathon runner.

But, in some places runners will best be able to maintain social distancing by getting further away from population. Walking away from town breathing less hard, running and then walking back might be a lot better than doing a shorter, harder run in a town.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 10:51

So you want us all to stop running?
Just for you

No, I want everyone to be fair and considerate and to stick to the guidelines. Then more people will get a chance to do some exercise.

You aren't more important than anyone else are you, so why does your physical or mental health take priority? Everyone should be able to go out for a period of time and if that's in a busy town then everyone should have a smaller amount of time. It shouldn't be that some can go out twice a day for two hours and others get nothing.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 15/04/2020 10:53

So I go out once a day to exercise
As does everyone I know
I walk to and from work
That's it
But I really think you do want everyone locked in their houses
I'm done

ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2020 10:55

I can't, because it's just too busy here. We are seeing the same people walk past out house several times a day. So, how is that fair? If they all stuck to once per day for about an hour maybe there would be times when it would be quiet enough for me to go out.

In that situation with denser population, some of those people shouldn't be going out multiple times.

There's maybe a simple rule of thumb along these lines: If when I go out, the paths would easily accommodate three times as many people, then going out twice is unlikely to negatively impact anyone else.

Xenia · 15/04/2020 10:59

We should just lift the lockdown and leave it to each person to decide how much they should go out.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 11:01

In that situation with denser population, some of those people shouldn't be going out multiple times

And that's what I'm saying - people don't think about others and the impact they are having. They just do what they think is right for them. No doubt they're all justifying it to themselves as well because the law doesn't forbid it and they feel that they have every right to do it and sod anyone else.

isabellerossignol · 15/04/2020 11:05

they feel that they have every right to do it and sod anyone else.

Bit like you're doing when you berate people for taking exercise that is perfectly within both the letter and the spirit of the law.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2020 11:18

We should just lift the lockdown and leave it to each person to decide how much they should go out.

Not till all the extra capacity (Nightingales etc) are commissioned and the NHS etc have enough PPE to deal with a surge.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 11:20

Bit like you're doing when you berate people for taking exercise that is perfectly within both the letter and the spirit of the law.

Going out more than once per day or for long periods of time isn't within the spirit of the law

Shitsgettingcrazy · 15/04/2020 11:58

hooves why do you believe those that are saying they need to get out for their mental health, are less important than you?

Wether people are exercising or not, you have been asked (not ordered) to stay in for 12 weeks.

Why are you so eager for others to sacrifice their mental health, because you feel yours is suffering. They CAN go out and exercise. Surely you would prefer people to not be suffering, where possible.

Make no mistake, the government does want everyone to stay in. They dont want everyone to comply. Everyone complying will mean shielded people stay in longer. They need people to catch this. But just not in huge numbers all at once.

Mascotte · 15/04/2020 11:58

Right, one last try, @Hearhoovesthinkzebras you are talking rubbish.

You’re clearly very bitter about your own situation. Maybe use some of your time to reflect on why that makes you want others to suffer.

And do not make erroneous statements about the law or people exercising or, god forbid, doing something you can’t.

Mascotte · 15/04/2020 11:59

I am getting so irritated. I should get out more 😉

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 12:19

why do you believe those that are saying they need to get out for their mental health, are less important than you?

Where have I said that? I've said if everyone sticks to once a day ( as they've been asked) and minimises their time out ( as they've been asked) then everywhere will be less busy, meaning more people can get out.

There are many threads on here discussing how busy some places are, usually quite areas are now packed etc. So, you're attacking me but refusing to acknowledge that people going out more than once a day are impacting others ability to go out. So why is their health more important than the people they are stopping getting out at all?

And do not make erroneous statements about the law or people exercising or, god forbid, doing something you can’t.

Please, quote where I've made an erroneous statement about the law? You can't because I haven't. I've spoken about the spirit of the law and the guidelines.

Some people are just selfish and will take, take, take rather than leave something for someone else. The fact that their behaviour impacts on others doesn't matter. All that matters is that they are ok.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 15/04/2020 12:21

Yup
You've summed your attitude up a treat in your own last paragraph

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 12:21

You’re clearly very bitter about your own situation. Maybe use some of your time to reflect on why that makes you want others to suffer.

Yeah, the thought of being imprisoned for the next eighteen months is kind of impacting on my ability to focus on my inner feelings. You know, things like will I see my kids again, of my parents, how will i.pay my bills when I lose my job, you know little things like that.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2020 13:25

People staying as fit as they can, but at a population level gradually catching CV at a level the expanded capacity can deal with is likely to be the only way to liberate the shielded group sooner. There's a chance that a vaccine might be available sooner, there's some chance of treatments to ameliorate the condition but keeping as much of the general 'herd' sound of wind is in your interests.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 13:31

Vaccines, certainly safe vaccines, are not going to be available soon. They aren't going to be available within the next two years. Certainly not vaccines that we know to be safe.

Those of us who are now shielded have basically been locked in a cupboard, as my GP said to me yesterday. That's it. We're just forgotten about now. Our hospital treatment has stopped, those of us who are working will no doubt lose our jobs when this twelve weeks is up, we'll lose contact with family and friends, our physical and mental health will suffer but who cares right? We'll be out of site out of mind.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 15/04/2020 13:36

Ok
I give up
There will be a vaccine sooner than that
And creating a degree of "herd immunity " in that time will actually protect you
But your really don't want to hear it
More people than you are suffering you know
Shielded or not
And no one has forgotten you
But you really do want everyone to be utterly miserable and suffering
Which won't help anyone in the long run

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 13:45

There will be a vaccine sooner than that

Will there? Based on what? Find out the quickest a vaccine has ever been developed before now. It's four years. On what basis are you determined to believe it will be quicker than that? Bill Gates is working to develop a vaccine and he said it on the news over the weekend - if they can develop one in 18 months time it will come at a price - safety testing and governments will have to decide if they accept that. A properly trialled vaccine, known to be safe and known to work, will not be available in 18 months time.

As for herd immunity - well, it's estimated now that less than 10% of the country have antibodies. How long do you think it will take to get to 60 - 70% required for herd immunity?

And yes, we have been forgotten about. How can you say otherwise?

So, yes I'm bitter because my life has effectively ended now and in a couple of months time you will all get to start living your lives again and we'll all just be left behind.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 15/04/2020 13:53

I said some degree of herd immunity
Not fully
That can only truly come from a vaccination programme
But as slowly the curve flattens and over time more people get it and recover
The safer things will become for the vulnerable
And if you only knew, if you only knew why I know that people like you aren't being forgotten
But I'm saving my breath now

peppermintcapsules · 15/04/2020 13:59

How do you think we are managing?

Not my problem.

Hear, you merail every single thread you're on. What's it going to take for you to realise it's not all about you?

Michael Gove doesn't know me from Adam, he doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone besides himself and his rich cronies. Why on Earth would I even consider allowing my life to be dictated by him or his ilk?

I walk in the hills. I've been doing this all my life. It's busier now, but still easy to observe social distancing. So I use my common sense and continue to do my usual 7-10 miles 4-5x/week.

It's a pity others cannot, but I can't do anything about it so I'm certainly not going to sit at home being miserable.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 15/04/2020 14:06

Not my problem.

Then it's not my problem if you can't exercise as much as you like is it? So I should be able to call for a harsher lockdown bthat might benefit those currently not able to get out, without worrying about you or anyone else. Glad we got that sorted then. Let's hope they toughen up the regulations so that people can only go out once a day.

peppermintcapsules · 15/04/2020 14:13

You can bay for stricter lockdown, hope all you want, it won't happen. I don't make my life someone else's problem when I can avoid it. It's a much nicer way to live. Bitterness only harms the one who's bitter. There's nothing to get sorted. If anything, the government will be discussing exit strategy tomorrow. There's no way to police once a day, anyhow, out here where I live (it's rural). So I'll carry on using my common sense.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 15/04/2020 14:17

Ah a serial merailler......

peppermintcapsules · 15/04/2020 14:19

Ah a serial merailler......

Yep. Every.single.thread.