We're allowed to go out for walks?

[ChloeTousignant]

Obviously I won't be meeting up with friends, but as long as we aren't symptomatic (so not self isolation) can we go out for walks?

I have 5 kids that will be off school and I think they'll kill each other if we can't got out for an hour or two in the country side?!

[10storeylovesong]

I've just had an email from NT saying they've now closed. Was hoping to let my boys run off some steam over the weekend!!

[Balkinfly]

I was surprised they said this anyway advertising surely!

[Allaboardthemagicbus2020]

Southbank closed.

[CherryPavlova]

I’m a confirmed case so in strict isolation but still walking the dog a little. Lungs won’t allow too much but a ten minute totter is heavenly.

It’s about being sensible and erring on side of caution rather than blind panic.
I walk from house directly onto open countryside and woodland where I see someone else in the distance maybe once in six months. I’m not going to be inadvertently passing anything on.
If you’re In a city and have four incredibly sociable children you might need to think carefully about how you do it.
Being outside is good. Being outside with others is less good.
Exercise through walking or better still jogging or cycling is very good and may reduce impact of the virus on mental health services.
When I’ve recovered I intend to swim in the sea, in an isolated spot. There won’t be anyone else there to spread it to at least until the weather warms up a bit.

[PuzzledObserver]

@CherryPavlova - how long have you had symptoms? Do you feel you’re improving? Once you’re better, you won’t be infectious any more and in fact will be immune, at least for a while. I think the government are relying on the health care workers who catch it and recover to keep the system going...

[lubeybooby]

yes, walks in open spaces for health and/or dog walking

[IdblowJonSnow]

Get well soon CherryPavlova. Hope it hasn't been too bad.

[CherryPavlova]

I tested positive on Friday. Still symptomatic. I suspect about day 8 so worse might yet be to come. We’ll see. I am slightly better in that my temperature is reduced a bit.
There is limited evidence that immunity is automatically conferred, sadly and several young medical staff deaths are linked to repeated infection. I’m hoping for short term immunity at least, so I can get back to work.

[KellyHall]

Hi Cherry
How/why were you tested?
I haven't heard of anyone being tested in the UK so have been wondering how "they" know how many people are infected!

[CherryPavlova]

They don’t know the numbers infected or even true death rate as some may die outside of hospitals.
Tested because of my work meaning I go to many hospitals and am in large, essential, planning meetings.

[Frankiecandle]

So the distant shepherd had Covid19 then?

[C8H10N4O2]

Tested because of my work meaning I go to many hospitals and am in large, essential, planning meetings

Honestly astonished at this. None of the HCP frontline staff I know can get tested, including one A&E doctor in 14 days isolation who most probably doesn't have the virus and could get back to work.

All the senior NHS staff I know are remote working in teams, including the planners.

Have a large number of additional tests been released?

[BriefDisaster]

Where we live is quiet and in the middle of woodland. Full of dog walkers but easy to keep distance. We are taking the kids and dog out a walk later and will continue to do so until we are explicity told otherwise or have to isolate due to symptoms.

Other than this we are sticking to the house and garden only with either DH or I jumping out for essentials when needed.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Allaaboard

The Southbank is closed?

[Disfordarkchocolate]

We're off for a walk later. Luckily there are lots of very quiet places near where we live.

[Crunchymum]

@CherryPavlova

Well I hope I dont bump into whilst you are out having a little totter about?

You have been confirmed and you still want to go outside??? I don't care how fucking sparse your village is, your selfishness is astounding!!!

Stay inside FFS.

[CherryPavlova]

Tested because of early contact with confirmed case admitted to an emergency department I was in at time - hospitals were testing at that point in hubs. I need to go into many hospitals so risk is transmission between sites, not personal risk. Obviously, not going in at moment and have been unwell but recovering.

No risk to others at all; It doesn’t drive, it doesn’t hover in the air for two weeks and get spread in the rain. It is a droplet infection and so contagious through contact with others or from fomites where virus continues to live for a brief period of time outside the host.
I touch nothing apart from the dog lead. I see nobody closer than half a mile or so away. The shepherd is pretty busy at the moment, as lambing is in progress now; he might wave from the yard across the field of beets. Much safer and lower risk than leaving a block of flats to but milk or using your own garden gate.

The whole point is you won’t bump into me. Therefore, it’s not a problem. Plus I’m coming out of isolation shortly, so probably much lower risk than anyone else. Inside is no more isolated than outside- it’s the application of sound IPC practice that matters.

[Allaboardthemagicbus2020]

@LaurieFairyCake

Yes, all venues closed but I guess people might still walk along the embankment area.

I wonder if anyone has told the skaters?

[Allaboardthemagicbus2020]

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/blog/southbank-centre-book-podcast-hilary-mantel-mirror-and-light?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=YourCultureFix21%2F03%2F20&utm_content=version_A


Podcasts of events available

[LaurieFairyCake]

Cheers 🥂

Was just wanting a very long walk, not looking for events

[NeedToKnow101]

Why won't we be able to drive soon?

[Honeyroar]

We live rurally. The footpath past my house has been like a motorway compared to normal today! Yesterday I met a friend at a local beauty spot for a walk and the car park, which is huge, was full! The police have posted on social media suggesting people use hand sanitizer when opening the gates there due to the volume of visitors.

I think I will be sticking to less popular footpaths now!

[C8H10N4O2]

Tested because of early contact with confirmed case admitted to an emergency department I was in at time - hospitals were testing at that point in hubs

Your region must be unusually well supplied with test. Around here the GP who was involved in setting up the area hubs (including hospitals) had clear guidance from the outset that testing was restricted to people showing significant symptoms. Simply having been in contact wasn't adequate justification, even for frontline healthworkers (including her).

Colleague's GP wife did similar role in the NW of England and reported exactly the same.

Both are frustrated at the sheer number of HCPs unable to work solely because they have to self isolate and can't be tested.

Perhaps your area had special rules or something.

[CherryPavlova]

C8H10N4O2 No, probably about same access to testing and general guidance but specific role gave priority access. It was about moving between hospitals and spreading much wider rather than personal or single site risk.

[SouthWestmom]

I've been trying to find out about testing because I heard there was an antibody test being developed. I've read the hub guidance on testing and the stuff about nhs workers not getting tested. Genuinely thought it was symptomatic and in hospital now. Why did they test you on Friday? Were you symptomatic or just because you'd met a confirmed case? I thought that went out the window weeks ago?

It's frustrating not to have clarity in any of this.