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.

@RedHot22

There also appears to be some resentment on this thread

I agree there is resentment but it’s from those that follow the law looking in on those that won’t follow the law!

I live on the edge of a rural market town and could walk in one direction towards fields but no I would not take my family some of whom have covid out for a walk. The OP has even stated that they could/would encounter people at the start of the walk before hitting rural fields.

Yes I'd go, I'd give anyone I saw a very wide berth obviously.

I wouldn't risk it. I despair at the people who would tbh. I hope I don't come across any of them in real life.

For anyone interested in the law, it is here:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/contents

Section 2 tells you to self isolate and gives permitted exemptions.

Section 11 tells you what is an offence in regard to self isolation.

My reading of section 11 is that if you go for a walk at a time and a place when you are unlikely to meet anyone, and you don’t meet anyone, you have not committed a criminal offence.

For what it is worth, I didn’t leave my house/garden when I had to isolate. But nor do I think this country should criminalise people for going for a solitary walk taking sensible precautions not to infect anyone.

Just do what everyone else has done and suck it up.

'Everyone'.

What sort of selfish fecker would go out when they’ve tested positive?

@Chippymunks

What sort of selfish fecker would go out when they’ve tested positive?

The one on here apparently.

@Chippymunks

What sort of selfish fecker would go out when they’ve tested positive?

Yawn yeah going for a walk in the fresh air alone the selfish bastards .

You also dont really know what others will do if they saw you. They may report you.

Also imagine the conversation in the unlikely event you fell and needed an ambalance. Yes im on a walk at x and im covid positive.

Far different trying to explain that one than ive had a fall at home and covid positive.

@Iknowitisheresomewhere that’s really interesting re the legislation. I’ve only skimmed it, but it talks about ‘intent’ and ‘close contact’. Which is my point really.

For example, we have one person on the house who is negative. I wouldn’t accompany them to the local shops and wait outside as it’s likely we would encounter more people. Plus it’s not necessary as they can go to the shops (although they aren’t old enough to buy medicines for us, but that’s another thread).

But I absolutely will not encounter anyone at ‘close contact’ range and may not even encounter another person at all, on my walk.

And yet the benefits of said walk to my mental and physical well-being, and recovery, are well documented.

There are some interesting comments on here about how ‘selfish’ it would (theoretically) be.

Is the same level of vitriol levelled at smokers? Second hand smoke, pressure on the NHS? Quite possibly, but I’m not sure.

And if you get reported? How will that impact your mental health

I’d have to own it, of course. Although as per earlier posts, the intent to encounter others and close contact elements sound crucial.

I’d be pretty unlucky to encounter someone who’d report me for walking in the open fields. In the supermarket, or doing school run, that’s different.

I always thought it was very unlikely that you would catch Covid outdoors - so even if you did walk past someone with Covid, the chances of actually getting it are really slim. Is that not the case?

People seem to be working on the basis that people OP might see will know she's got covid?

I would definitely go for a walk in these circumstances

Go for a walk OP! Just avoid others- which will be easy to do. All the people who are saying you could have an accident are being ridiculous. It’s not like you are engaging in a risky activity. You could just as easily have an accident in your own home as out on a walk in some fields 🙄

@OrangeSunset

There are some interesting comments on here about how ‘selfish’ it would (theoretically) be.

Is the same level of vitriol levelled at smokers? Second hand smoke, pressure on the NHS? Quite possibly, but I’m not sure.

I’m not as black and white as some people on here and I’m not a total stickler for the rules. That said, your comparison isn’t valid. Firstly, smokers pay a huge amount of tax to prop up the NHS and it has less impact on individuals. If you blow smoke in my face, I won’t catch a contagious virus that means I need to isolate for 10 days and risk my employment etc.

Nope. Stay in your own garden. I would be SO pissed if I was going for a nice country walk and encountered someone with COVID.