potential lockdown and 'exercise'

[venusandmars]

I am confused (aren't we all!)

So far, dh and I are doing pretty well at social distancing. I'm self employed, wfh normally, and in any case my contracts have pretty much all been cancelled [that's another story]. Dh has been wfh since last Friday. We have stopped seeing our dgc sad We are not socialising with hobby groups or friends, and instead are using social media where possible - the writing group is relatively easy, the badminton group not so much grin

We go to the shops when we need to. Have stocked up on prescriptions and have no immediate need to attend medical appointments.

We live in a small town, less than 10,000 population surrounded by countryside.

When it comes to 'exercise' the lockdown information from other places all indicates that this must be solo. Why? If dh and I walk from our home (on the edge of the countryside) does is make any difference if we are separate or together? If we drive a couple of miles to a more remote wilderness, are we adding to our risk, the risk of others?

I'd genuinely appreciate any epidemiological advice, or any well reasoned answer. I will comply, I just can't make sense of it.

I think the idea is that you don!'t meet up with people who you would otherwise not be seeing, for any non-essential reason, including exercise.

In practice, as you and DH are sharing your exposure, going forba walk or run together would not pose a risk to either of you. Not would the risk to others be greater compared to you exercising separately (arguably the other way round, as only one of you would need to touch gates etc, not each of you)

But - set against that the bigger aim of getting people to distance themselves. If it looks OK to excercise n pairs, then other people - who are not already sharing their exposure by cohabiting - might decide it's OK meet and exercise together, because it looks as if everyone is doing it.

The issue is enforcement. If you go out together, how will the police/whoever is enforcing know that you are living together rather than friends deciding to meet up.

And as RoseandRose said you will get people saying “well they’re out together! So I can meet my friend”

Do an exercise video off YouTube