Country walk, couldn't believe my eyes, this is how it spreads...

[RapidRainbow]

We've been, like everyone else, walking more than usual. Today we walked a new route. The path was really tricky to SD on having to stop and go up against barbed fences to let people pass. We were wedged between a group carrying a pushchair down to a beauty spot (we didn't realise until we got there the insistence to go down the very steep rocky stepped path was because they were clearly gathering for a day out with other families as we saw approx. 20 people in groups in a clearing!). At one point we stopped so we didn't get too close to people in front and a family group behind us went past and I felt their presence on my back, you know that little brush against you! Then there was a group of 3 in their early twenties ish with one man coughing and sensed them very close behind so moved over to let them past. On both occasions a polite 'excuse me' would have been better so we could suitable SD as best we could.

We sat on a hill near a gate, we could see everyone going through it opened it with their hands. My DH and son used their feet to knock the catches open so we didn't have to touch the gate. If we have to touch a stiff gate, we instantly use our hand spray gel, I'm so glad we didn't need to do that today!

I watched as kids climbed over the gate, people opened the gate then rubbed their face or opened a drinks bottle or ran their hands through their hair! I estimated that in the 10 minutes we sat there, approx 20 people touched that gate and not one used a handgel or wipe etc afterwards.

It's not exact, but that would be 120 people in an hour and over a 10 hour day of a busy area, approx 1200 touching that one gate. Statisticly, some of them would be carrying Covid!

These will be the people who get Covid and say 'well I've only been to the Supermarket and out walking'!

I don't think I'm being overly cautious? I feel safe outside if we SD but I try to imagine every person and every surface could be carrying Covid to keep risks to a minimum.

But you were there too, OP?

Actually it’s currently estimated to be 1 in 1700 people infected so statistically there may well not have been anyone there infected.

I think you e got a point OP, but as I'm a numbers nerd, actually yesterday (or day before) boris's statement said that fewer than 1 in 1000, maybe as low as 1 in 2000, likely closer to 1 in 1700 currently have it.
So there is a good chance that actually not a single one of the people you observed do have it. However chances are after a couple of days of this someone with the virus will pass by.

Also obv not everyone who has it will be symptomatic, or shedding virus onto the hand they use to touch the gate

So actually when you look at it like that, it's not that high risk?!

As a general point poeple should use a bit more common sense though, you're right. I think we're all bored and complacent. I know I'm getting that way, my body can't stay on high alert forever

I think you are being overly cautious.

I really dont think this is how it spreads. Indoors, sustained periods, close proximity, hospitals, care homes, prisons.

marcelline snap! You managed to be more succinct than me

I've been to the countryside today as well OP. What usually is a quiet walk was absolutely packed - but in all honesty I was there adding to the problem. And quite frankly I just can't stay in any longer. They reckon the transmission rate is low outdoors so I fancy my chances of survival.

I don't think this is how it spreads. It's care homes/hospitals of factories with workers close together indoors. I'm not saying people shouldn't be careful outside but those people on the beach the media moaned about don't seem to have caused any spikes.

No evidence it’s transmitted via surfaces. Or can survive in the open air. If it stresses you you, maybe stay inside?

I’ve been on walks that required gates opening & closing.. I took hand gel & used it once we got back to the car or before I ate. It is what it is. People will have been climbing over gates etc for months I’m sure & yet infection rates are not increasing. They are holding fairly steady at the mo. So I doubt it’s causing too much bother!

I don't think this is how it spreads at all

It spreads inside, offices, construction sites , transport etc

Probably gates are not how it spreads. Maybe stay away from crowded beauty spots once you spot it's busy though?

I can’t bear judgey posts like this.

Stop thinking everyone and everything has COVID. The vast majority have observed SD, for 13 weeks+ now, followed advice and guidance and the R rate has been driven right down and the 1/1700 figure above is what the BBC are reporting on the World Service. This is why it’s ok now to return to (as much as) “normal” - they are even away to drop SD to 1M, likely altogether by the end of Aug.

I get so fucking exasperated at posts like these, frightened people pissing on others for living as you’ve been completely convinced this killer virus will mangle the shit out of you and a second wave and the imminent collapse of the NHS is just round the corner.

I do and and I don’t blame you OP (and those who think alike) for my still feeling anxious about touching my face in a supermarket, for pressing the button at traffic lights, but heavens above I hope you keep your opinions to yourself and that you get that life must and has to return to normal sometime, cure or no cure, vaccine or no vaccine.

@turnthebiglightoff

Yes I was there too. I'm not complaining about the amount of people that were there but rather thebpeople disregarding SD.

Obviously my stats are very, very loose. In the right conditions it is believed it can live on wood for 3 days so whilst cautious, it's not impossible to think someone could pick it up from touching one of those many gates on the route.

I'll keep doing what I'm doing anyway and no doubt they will do the what they do but I too have sat here wondering how it still spreads with all these precautions and that's just one observation.

@InfiniteGerbils

I can’t bear judgey posts like this.

Stop thinking everyone and everything has COVID. The vast majority have observed SD, for 13 weeks+ now, followed advice and guidance and the R rate has been driven right down and the 1/1700 figure above is what the BBC are reporting on the World Service. This is why it’s ok now to return to (as much as) “normal” - they are even away to drop SD to 1M, likely altogether by the end of Aug.

I get so fucking exasperated at posts like these, frightened people pissing on others for living as you’ve been completely convinced this killer virus will mangle the shit out of you and a second wave and the imminent collapse of the NHS is just round the corner.

I do and and I don’t blame you OP (and those who think alike) for my still feeling anxious about touching my face in a supermarket, for pressing the button at traffic lights, but heavens above I hope you keep your opinions to yourself and that you get that life must and has to return to normal sometime, cure or no cure, vaccine or no vaccine.

Well said

It spreads indoors in the ways PPs have described. Sometimes from healthcare staff to their families.

It may survive on wood for 3 days in the right conditions". That's not what you're describing.

You are not helping social distancing by going there yourself.

No this isn't how it spreads generally.

Factories, care homes, prisons, warehouses, hospital wards, households ... indoor places where physical distancing is difficult or not possible, appear to be the main infection risk.

Also, you were there too.

I think if you're that anxious, I would avoid narrow paths. It won't do you mentally any good. What other people decide with gates is up to them, you don't know if they put gel on after you saw them.

God, who has time to over-analyse other people's behaviour wasting precious life hand-wringing over people touching a fucking gate and not 'social distancing'?

100% what InfiniteGerbils said. Tedious AF!

Is "SD" now an abbreviation?

RapidRainbow, people have had enough of being told to stay home, stay in, save lives, protect the NHS shouldn't it be protecting us?, do this, do that, don't do this, don't do that. It has been 3 months.

It's obvious that things are improving and that the enormous likelihood is that you won't catch anything outdoors on a walk, even if other people are doing the same walk (which they are perfectly entitled to do).

Let people enjoy some well earned time with their friends and families like you were doing, without judging them.

problem is that we all touch our mouths and faces a lot, and the virus survives on surfaces. That's the issue.

dropping the distance for adults is purely so the pubs can open, the science hasn't changed. A bit of maths tells you how much the risk increases if you drop social distance from 2 metres to 1 metre.

kids can go closer together as long as they keep away from teacher.

still, once the indoor people are all back inside the pubs and shopping centres, the parks and walks will have more room.

Get a grip. If you're that worried about something so obviously low risk maybe you should walk somewhere else. Fed the fuck up with sanctimonious judgy posts.

Are people really still worrying about/posting about this?

I ate some strawberries a week ago, without washing them. I go out every day. I don't possess a mask. I pay in cash because there is no money in my bank account, thanks to lockdown. I wash my hands just as much as I did pre-Covid, namely when coming in from outside, after using the loo, and before and after preparing food.

I am, strangely, still well. So are my teenagers.

I really do doubt that anyone will catch anything from a gate.

You managed to waste your lovely walk worrying about everybody else transmitting Covid. You sound overly paranoid.

The virus isn’t as likely to spread outside; it spread indoors, in environments where people are crowded together for long periods of time. Why were you so preoccupied with watching other people whilst out on your walk? And worrying about who touches the gate/their hair/their faces. Maybe try and be conscious of your levels of anxiety as it ruined the walk for you.

Using hand-gel every time you touch a gate is a huge overreaction. Unless you're licking your hands after you do so, why not just use it before you get back to the car/before you eat?