Risk from playgrounds

[OllietheOwl]

What do you think? Will Boris announce the closure of playgrounds tomorrow? As mum to a 3 year old, I really hope not! But how much risk do you think there is when they’re quite busy? Even though I ask DD to try and keep a bit of space around her, it’s near on impossible when she’s climbing around.

They didn’t shut during the last lockdown so can’t imagine them shutting again.

I think the risk is quite low as it’s outside, but not as everything else is closed they are very busy.

0-0.025% for each 20 minutes spent there.

I mean that's made up because no one knows, but it's completely the wrong environment for most the transmission we know about.

Due to being Outdoors, probably windy, heavily abraded surfaces full of other germs that compete for same resources covid would like, touched by only asymptomatic people, nobody should stop & talk close together for long periods, etc.

if they close the schools as predicted by many then kids will naturally flock to playgrounds

they may then need to be closed off like the first time

53,000 new cases today, the most in the world. something needs to stop this virus fast or we will be in and out of lockdowns and tiers for the whole of 2021

"More tranmissable" hasn't really been defined in terms of what it means, I don't think? So it's possible that measures that were sufficient to protect against the original virus variant won't be good enough against the new strain. Personally I'd think busy playgrounds with children coming into direct contact, breathing heavily over each other etc are probably a potential infection source (disclaimer - my opinion only). I hope they are not shut, for the benefit of those who use them, and that parents are simply encouraged to avoid if they are busy, but unfortunately many people won't follow that.

@RedskyAtnight

So it's possible that measures that were sufficient to protect against the original virus variant won't be good enough against the new strain.

Yes this has been on my mind the last few days, it’s so worrying

Imagine hugely low risk. As previous poster said, they’re a poor environment for transmission. Outdoor, in sunlight, windy, likely only users would be asymptomatic if positive, and IME parents of young kids tend to be rather hotter on hand sanitising etc than general popn (that’s just my observation - can’t bear it out with science).

Though they were (stupidly) closed where I live this year and it was a great blow for DS, who was cooped up all day with me WFH. The playground being closed tipped him over the edge on a few occasions.

risk outside is very very low.
try to go at times that are not as busy though.

Also I would say that kids these days tend to play quite separately/ in family groups, rather than en masse like we did 30 years ago- so not so much close contact as you’d think.

My local park play area was rammed on Monday. Sunny afternoon. Parents mingling and no masks to be seen.

I'm relaxed about it all but this was crazy busy.

I was only passing but I am a parent and wouldn't have let my kids play there.

They should be closed because many people can't make sensible decisions about when to walk away.

It was apparatus so lots of kids hands everywhere though I think the parents were the biggest issue tbh

It’s outdoors, risk is infinitesimal.

It would be draconian to close them.

Outdoors is less risky but touch points would be an issue for me. Given how many posts I’ve read re going out when meant to be isolating or it’s just a sniffle and refusal to test I would be wary. Certainly would avoid when busy. If it was ok to be outdoors in big groups then festivals etc would have been on.

@thebearschairs

They should be closed because many people can't make sensible decisions about when to walk away.

Seems unfair punishing the collective for a few people.

Open playgrounds are keeping my young kids sane

Fomite transmission has been debunked as a major transmission risk.

@thebearschairs Where was that? It sounds like the kind of playground I have seen in the South or somewhere like Cheshire. In our little market town the playgrounds are never busy, in fact I often go to a little one that I have only ever encountered one other family in in over 2 years! So disagree all playgrounds need to be closed, some parts of the country are considerably most sparsely populated than others and don't experience these same issues.

Seriously, if they close playgrounds again I’ll be dusting off my bolt cutters. Children need exercise and a tramp around a freezing park just doesn’t cut it for toddlers and preschoolers.

Good to read the risk is minimal. The first three months of lockdown with a toddler and nowhere to take them was absolutely grim.

Our local playgrounds have been dead so far this winter. There's a big one in a close big town which is always busy but we went yesterday afternoon and is was quiet because it's so cold.

I genuinely don't think people will flock there but I do think groups will meet up but knowing some parents rounds here they'll only meet up somewhere else if they can't go to the park.

The playgrounds and the supermarkets are really busy because there's literally nothing else to do. I wish people would stop overthinking this virus, we are ruining our own lives trying to micro manage all risk!

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@thebearschairs

They should be closed because many people can't make sensible decisions about when to walk away.

Seems unfair punishing the collective for a few people.

Open playgrounds are keeping my young kids sane[/quote]

I don't want them closed personally. Couldn't care that much but I don't want a ton of middle class twats pushing up the numbers locally quite frankly.

My point was every parent thinks their little Jimmy's time on the equipment trumps everyone else's. For various alleged extenuating circumstances.

I hope not. Parents of little children round here seem, to be pretty sensible. Large gangs of teenage children less so

[quote Subordinateclause]@thebearschairs Where was that? It sounds like the kind of playground I have seen in the South or somewhere like Cheshire. In our little market town the playgrounds are never busy, in fact I often go to a little one that I have only ever encountered one other family in in over 2 years! So disagree all playgrounds need to be closed, some parts of the country are considerably most sparsely populated than others and don't experience these same issues.[/quote]
Yes was a big but very middle class town near Chester.

I might be exaggerating there with very middle class 😂

@sweetchristmastime

I hope not. Parents of little children round here seem, to be pretty sensible. Large gangs of teenage children less so

This nails it too.

I don't let my kid on the swings etc now they've said about being transmitted easier, I'm abit paranoid about it tho so know not everyone will be like that so hope they stay open for those who want it