Coronavirus: How to go for a walk safely

​Morning walk during coronavirus pandemic: Six precautions you must keep in mind before stepping outdoors

As countries across the world continue to ease down lockdown restrictions for their citizens, people are finally stepping out of their houses after months of quarantining and staying indoors. While the idea of going out for a jog or regular morning walks in parks sounds really tempting, we have to note that the threat of the novel coronavirus is still looming large. It is evident that after the government allowed the movement in a staggered manner, the infection rate has drastically gone up after the restrictions on movement were eased.

Take these precautions

So, before you put on your walking shoes and gear up to become one with nature, there are certain precautions you must take to keep yourself and others safe. This is especially important for those belonging to the high-risk category (older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions including cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, diabetes and cancer). Here are 6 things you must keep in mind before stepping outside your home for a morning walk:

01/ ​Maintain a distance of at least 12 feet with others, at all times

While the official norms dictate a minimal distance of 6 feet from others, it is important to note that the droplets can travel much further when people are moving, jogging or cycling. A stimulation by Tech company Ansys has suggested that if a person is walking at the speed of 4km/h, the droplets can spread as far as 5 metres (approximately 16 feet) behind them. The study has not been peer-reviewed and does not keep an account of environmental factors like the wind and humidity and is not based on human candidates but rather uses a computer simulation. In any case, it is advisable to stay at least 12-20 feet away from other people when you go for a walk.

02/ ​Look straight ahead to know who or what is coming your way

When you go running during a pandemic, you cannot exactly afford to plug in your earphones and get lost in the rhythm. You need to keep your eyes at the front to avoid running into people and observe who is walking in your direction. Keep planning your running path so that you have time to change the route if people come too close. Always choose a route with fewer people and avoid running in a narrow path where chances of running into people are higher.

03/ ​Do not wear any masks or face-covering while running/walking or jogging

It is important to note that oxygen requirements increase during any cardiovascular activity which is why one should not wear any face mask or face-covering which prevents you from breathing properly. As the masks cover the mouth of a person, it becomes difficult to breathe from the mouth and nose as the flow of air gets restricted.

04/ Avoid walking/ jogging in crowded places

Since running, jogging or even walking while wearing a face-cover is not advisable, a person must choose an appropriate area which is not packed with people to go for a walk or a jog. Also, if you see people walking towards you, it is advisable to take a break and put on your face-mask/face covering to avoid respiratory droplets and contamination.

05/ ​Keep your hands to yourself

When you venture outdoors, it is very important that you don’t touch anything at all. From park gates, lift buttons, plants, trees to even the benches--everything and anything outdoors must be in your ‘do not touch’ list to avoid contamination. If you do touch something by accident, always sanitize your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer thoroughly.

06/ ​Avoid high-intensity running and take it easy

Even if you are a seasoned marathon runner, it is not the time to show off your skills. For starters, it is important to maintain a safe distance from other runners, which is not entirely possible when you are running at a high pace. Also, one should only choose to run outside when you are sure that you will be able to keep your distance from others i.e. avoiding crowded places and keeping a pace you are comfortable with. Remember, this is not the time to keep up with your regular running/jogging routine, so learn to take it easy for the coming few months.

from LifeStyle