Can we go in garden?

[life2day]

Just rcd this message NHS Coronavirus Service: You can open a window but do not go outside your property. Ask others to take rubbish to bins and to walk any pets.

Stupid question but can we go in garden. Child is on the high risk. Homeschooling for 3 weeks now - took out of school early but have been using garden for breaks, pe and nature work. Now we receive the above message.. has things changed?

Back garden yes, front garden no.

@moltonsilvee where did you read that and what's the reasoning?

It means you can't go outside. They wouldn't mention the window opening otherwise so yes that includes the garden.

Up to you whether you follow it, but that's the good practice advice for protecting a shielded person so anything outside of that would potentially increase risks. It won't however be possible for all households to follow all advice depending on logistics

Coronavirus won't know the difference between front and back gardens or pavement vs garden as some pp imply

So what is the official advice?

It is not airborne.

WHO, 29/03
'According to current evidence, COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes. In an analysis of 75,465 COVID-19 cases in China, airborne transmission was not reported.'
www.who.int/publications-detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations

The official advice is posted upthread and linked to. Yes, you can go in the garden if it's a private space. That's the advice from both the UK and Scottish Governments. Random people's ideas of what is and what isn't allowed aren't helpful. They explicitly say that you can go in your own garden, provided it is a private space and you are at least 2m away from anyone else.

Once again, for anyone who missed it:

'https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#how-do-you-look-after-your-mental-wellbeing'

'try spending time with the windows open to let in the fresh air, arranging space to sit and see a nice view (if possible) and get some natural sunlight, or get out into any private space, keeping at least 2 metres away from your neighbours and household members if you are sitting on your doorstep'

And this is the Scottish Government shielding advice:

'try spending time with the windows open to let in fresh air, arranging space to sit and see a nice view (if possible) and get some natural sunlight. Get out into the garden or sit on your doorstep if you can, keeping a distance of at least 2 metres or 6 feet from others

Was hearing about research yesterday that suggests spread is much greater than two metres. Two metres was seen to be usual in breathing but coughing spread the virus much further and sneezing spread it further still. Looks like the two metre advice is wildly under estimating. I'll try and link the research

Turbulent Gas Clouds and Respiratory Pathogen EmissionsPotential Implications for Reducing Transmission of COVID-19

LydiaBourouiba,PhD1

JAMA.Published online March 26,2020
doi:10.1001/jama.2020.4756

For some reason I can't copy the link but this is the study.

This is a link to the YouTube channel where it is discussed and a link to the study is posted

"It means you can't go outside. They wouldn't mention the window opening otherwise so yes that includes the garden."

ever considered that it might be for the millions of people who don't have a garden?!