Isolation - going for a walk

[OrangeSunset]

Myself and a few other members of my family tested positive over the past week. It was pretty horrid but feeling on the mend now.

In terms of the rest of isolation, I’m interested in views on whether it would be ok to go for a walk. Context is, we live in a village where we can walk out the door, down the road and over the fields. We may encounter one or two other people, but it would be easy to cross the road/move to another path etc.

Obviously we are sticking to the rules - no visitors, not left the house for shops/work or anything else involving others. But, I feel it’s important for us as we recover to get some gentle exercise and fresh air, especially now the clocks have changed. I can feel the rot setting in, mentally and physically, from sitting around inside all day.

However, the rules on the NHS self isolate page say do not go out to exercise.

Given our circumstances, I’m interested in how many people would take a view that it’s logically no risk to others to take a walk.

@TheKeatingFive

I think one of the main reasons is that as a pp said, if you were to have an accident, then you will put other people at risk

You're statistically more likely to have an accident requiring medical help in your own home.

I absolutely would OP.

agree entirely. The chances of having a terrible accident while you're going for a wander along a public footpath? Almost nil. Take a family member if you're worried.

Chances of falling down the stairs far higher.

The reason for the rule is that our government doesn't trust people to make their own judgement. And most people don't live rurally. If you live in the middle of a city then clearly going for a walk will be more risky than if you live in the middle of nowhere!

OP has not answered if she has a garden or not? So I'm assuming she does and just is not saying.

OP - it's 10 days, not a lifetime, and presumably you've already done 5 days or so? Just stay in for a few more days (as the LAW states). To do otherwise would be very self-centred.

Staying in, especially if you have a garden isn't a massive hardship.

But if you do encounter people who you know and they come over to speak to you what will you say to them?
“Please don’t approach us we have covid”.

That would go down well and whip around the village.
Just use the garden.

Honestly, I wasn’t asking for permission. I have a fairly clear idea of what is logically safe/risky and what is not and had already made my decision.

My post was more interested in how wide the continuum of opinion is, and where I am on it! I don’t see it as a sanctimonious kicking @QueenofKattegat at all, just more evidence of how divisive this whole thing is.

No way. It is illegal.

I’m in the same rural situation but I’ve stayed home the entire time except to post an antibody test which was a valid exemption.

Follow the rules. It’s not a long time.

Go for a walk

@PiousPenelope

OP has not answered if she has a garden or not? So I'm assuming she does and just is not saying.

OP - it's 10 days, not a lifetime, and presumably you've already done 5 days or so? Just stay in for a few more days (as the LAW states). To do otherwise would be very self-centred.

I have a garden But no bloody way is that good enough for my children and I for ten days

Out early morning and evening op (take a torch!)

I have a garden
But no bloody way is that good enough for my children and I for ten days

Boo fucking hoo. You realise how selfish and entitled you sound?

My council did actually check up on me, I was out walking the dogs, lucky for me they called around the day after I was out of isolation, so beware. If they had come the day before, a fine would have been in the post.

It is pretty clear. Isn't it actually illegal ?

What was divisive before was whether it was ok to go out for a second walk living rurally verses not. Nobody was arguing for people who actually have covid to be able to leave isolation to go for a walk

I can’t actually believe what I’m reading here. .

@PurpleDaisies

I have a garden But no bloody way is that good enough for my children and I for ten days

Boo fucking hoo. You realise how selfish and entitled you sound?

Passed the point of caring. Really.

Double vaccinated
Children had it (so mildly blink and you miss it)
No vulnerable family members
Live near beautiful countryside that’s tumble weed from early evening onwards and would see anyone coming hundreds of metres away

So if my label is selfish, then I will gladly laminate it and pin it to my coat and proudly display it!

@PurpleDaisies

What was divisive before was whether it was ok to go out for a second walk living rurally verses not. Nobody was arguing for people who actually have covid to be able to leave isolation to go for a walk

I can’t actually believe what I’m reading here. .

Er yes

Because there’s been some fairly significant developments since then (have you heard? There’s a vaccine!)

Because there’s been some fairly significant developments since then (have you heard? There’s a vaccine!)

The law on self isolation has changed?

It’s pretty depressing reading how many people would break the rules to do what they want to do.

It’s 10 days.

I’ve recently had COVID and so has my 12yo autistic son. Even he managed to stay inside for 10 days and stick to the rules because he knows it’s the law and the right thing to do. I’m sure if he can do it then you can too.

If you are feeling well enough to exercise then you could do a home workout or walk round your garden for some fresh air. If you don’t want to “sit around inside all day” then don’t - be active in your home.

You can’t have one rule for one group and one for another. It’s 10 days. You’ll soon be out.

@PurpleDaisies

Because there’s been some fairly significant developments since then (have you heard? There’s a vaccine!)

The law on self isolation has changed?

Nope!

It added a shiver of high adrenaline when the children and I were out walking in a deserted field at 6.30pm on a Tuesday evening when the children had it a few weeks ago!!

It added a shiver of high adrenaline when the children and I were out walking in a deserted field at 6.30pm on a Tuesday evening when the children had it a few weeks ago!!

Pathetic.

Sometimes this place just makes be despair for humanity.

I probably wouldn’t do it because I’m an avid rule-follower who is scared of getting into trouble (this is not always a good thing), but I wouldn’t judge or criticise anyone else for doing it.

@PurpleDaisies

It added a shiver of high adrenaline when the children and I were out walking in a deserted field at 6.30pm on a Tuesday evening when the children had it a few weeks ago!!

Pathetic.

Sometimes this place just makes be despair for humanity.

Oh dear!

You say you’re not “asking for permission”. You also say you’ve read what the NHS website says.

Since it’s the law to isolate at home, what would be a sensible choice would be to act within the law and isolate at home.

I understand it’s difficult for those living in built up areas to not comprehend rural living and vice versa. I wouldn’t have gone out if I lived in a city, town or even central in a village. I live up a quiet lane with fields.

There has to be one rule for all but common sense comes in to play here.

There also appears to be some resentment on this thread

@RedHot22

There also appears to be some resentment on this thread

I live rurally surrounded by country lanes. There’s no resentment here. I currently have covid.

I would not dream of breaking the law by going out for a walk. It’s ten days.

The law says you shouldn't and unless staying in would put you at risk I don't think you should be going out if you are positive.