AIBU to go for a run if I am self isolating?

[narisha99]

Am expecting to be shot down in flames here, but bear with me....

Self isolation advice is to stay at home for a week and not even go out for a walk. I totally get why public places should be avoided etc, but given the risk of airbourne transmission is being with 2-3ft of someone for 15 mins this wouldn't happen if I went for a run or a walk. It would be very easy for me to go for a walk in a rural area / woods etc where I would be unlikely to see many people, and I certainly wouldn't be getting close to them.

But why are you doing that? @tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

You’re still breathing the air surrounding. If you’re going to not touch your face and wash your hands after your work out you’re not really doing yourself any favours. If someone coughs or sneezes it’s still going to enter your body.

Every one of us is a potential carrier of this virus to others. If those who have any symptoms whatsoever stay at home and mean it, the ways the virus can travel and spread are reduced. Similarly if those who can withdraw from others for a while, eg if they are vulnerable. It protects them, it protects those around them and it all helps to reduce the strain on the NHS and doctors deciding who will get treatment and who won’t.

The Coronavirus loves it when people ignore these basic truths.

There are going to be tough times ahead, but as a society we do have weapons and a degree of control as it unfurls and how many people die.

The UK is comparatively “fortunate” in that we have a bit more time to prepare and learn for what lies ahead.

Please, let’s use it wisely.

@BothALarkAndAnOwl but if people are erring on the side of caution and staying home, it makes it somewhat safer for someone vulnerable who needs to go out to do so.

BothALarkAndAnOwl not everyone in the high risk category can self isolate.

My DH is high risk and has 2/3rd of a lung missing following surgery for cancer, has breathing issues following surgery and is in the middle of radiotherapy to his lung which is making his breathing worse. He has to go to hospital everyday for treatment. Therefore if someone has been told to self isolate even if they don't have a confirmed diagnosis I would expect them to follow the guidance and not bump into them having a run....

And I love the phrase “virus sympathiser”.

I think that needs a hashtag.

Depends where you live. I can go for a run for up to an hour and not pass within 50m of another person.

Self isolation advice is to stay at home for a week and not even go out for a walk.

So why are you asking stupid questions? The amount of people who are deciding to make their own rules about self isolation and just risking everyone else's health is ridiculous.

Well the advice isn't that clear if people are under the impression that you only need to self-isolate for only 7 days from the start of any symptoms and you are fine cease self-isolation after a 7 day period even if you are still experiencing symptoms

But that IS the advice. Self isolate for 7 days from the start of symptoms. After the 7 days, you can cease isolation. What's so hard to understand about it?

Well agreed but it's small measures that take seconds and make me feel a bit better. I keep my distance from people when there but if it's on a surface surely I'm reducing the chance of coming into contact? Otherwise the hand washing thing may as well all be bollocks.

Plus, even with CV not in the equation, I've seen some Neanderthals at my gym spit on their hands - I shit yee not - before picking up weights and handling machines. Some people are just animals

‘ Depends where you live. I can go for a run for up to an hour and not pass within 50m of another person‘

There’s quite a simple flaw to that logic though isn’t there- where will all the selfish people go?
Oh that’s right... the countryside, where there’s usually no one else around?
Hmmm...

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoze you’re literally doing yourself no favours wiping things before you use them. Washing your hands and not touching your face is the most effective method, if you’re doing that, there is literally zero point in wiping things down before you use them.

What about if you go for a run wearing hazmat suit?
or maybe just a visor and a bottle of eucalyptus oil?

The point of self isolation is to stop points of transmission as much as possible though. She’s not going to go out and rub her hands over every stranger she passes and cough in her face is she.

In my defence for going to the gym today, I had a mild cold last week which I'm now over. No temperature. No remote chance whatsoever that it is coronavirus related. And like a PP said it is good gym etiquette to wipe down the machines when you've used them. There were plenty of people in there, and plenty of people have mild colds at this time of year.

@champagneandfromage50 and @Butterwhy - Did you read my post? I was quoting someone else who was arguing that it's the vulnerable who should stay at home. I know they can't necessarily do this - which is why reading garbage like the PP makes me so angry.

(Sorry if I sound snippy.)

I wouldn't, simply because I need to spit quite frequently when I run (and sometimes vomit on a long run). It wouldn't be far to leave piles of toxic gunk everywhere.

Ew that's proper grim @mintyspud

It's not ok to go out for a run - the guidelines are clear.

However as a runner, I understand where you are coming from and I would also be very tempted.

Could you hire a treadmill to keep you ticking over?

Fair enough but as I say, it makes me feel better. And I avoid touching my face until I'm home and have washed my hands properly. Can't see it causing any harm though,

The bigger point here is how can you tell there won't be anyone about? You can't. Maybe there will be a load of schoolkids on a walk, or a very elderly couple who decided to go and get a breath of fresh air somewhere remote because they're trying to avoid contact because they know if they catch it they may well die. You can't possibly know that the route you normally take which is rarely used will be free of people - and yes the virus hangs around for a while so you could infect people.

Why can't you run on the spot / do squats / star jumps / push ups inside instead? Or do you have a garden? Squats and star jumps in the garden (if your neighbours aren't out). It's only two weeks for goodness sake.

If you're going to go, go at midnight or 1am.

You are being incredibly selfish.

My response is the same as it always is though. No-one can make you not go for a run. But if you do you CANNOT complain when someone you care about who is vulnerable gets seriously ill. So make your choice. Be a good citizen and member of your community, think about the impact of your choices and act for the greater good. Or don’t.

I like to think most people will do the right thing and put others first. I guess we’ll find out.

There’s quite a simple flaw to that logic though isn’t there- where will all the selfish people go?

Don't get me wrong, if I was isolating, I wouldn't be going out for a run, because I wouldn't be running it ill.
But - I can still walk the dog without seeing any other people at all.

. Exposure to sunlight will help to raise your vitamin D level, which boosts your immune response to infection.

At this time of year in the UK that statement is bollocks.

So now we know why we have heard stories of people being welded into their homes and threatened with murder charges for breaking quarantine. People are just incapable of doing as they are told.

If you have a new cough or a fever don’t leave your house for 7 days. At all. Dont go for a run, even at midnight. Don’t walk your dog.

If you're running in the woods rather than through busy city centre streets then I think that would be fine! I suspect that all the runners on here will say YANBU and all the non-runners will say YABU.