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Coronavirus: Should outdoor exercise be banned and parks closed? Coronavirus: Should outdoor exercise be banned and parks closed?
(3 days later)
Some parks and outdoor areas around the UK have been closed to stop people congregating, but would shutting more of them and banning outdoor exercise help to stop the spread of coronavirus? People "need parks" and councils must keep them open, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.
Which parks have been closed? But does shutting more of them and banning outdoor exercise help stop the spread of coronavirus?
Why have some parks closed and some not?
Closing parks and recreational areas is up to local authorities, and some took that step after people started congregating in warmer weather, despite social distancing measures.Closing parks and recreational areas is up to local authorities, and some took that step after people started congregating in warmer weather, despite social distancing measures.
London's Lambeth Council closed Brockwell Park on the first weekend in April after large numbers gathered to sunbathe. However, it opened again on the Monday. Many have since reopened, but Middlesbrough's mayor Andy Preston says those in his town will stay shut.
Tower Hamlets council closed Victoria Park, but it has since reopened with reduced hours and new control measures in place. In a post on social media, Mr Preston said parks themselves were not dangerous, but "people gathering and mixing inappropriately could be deadly".
Elsewhere, London's Lambeth Council closed Brockwell Park on the first weekend in April after large numbers gathered to sunbathe. It has since reopened.
Tower Hamlets council closed Victoria Park, but then reopened it with reduced hours and new control measures in place.
The National Trust has closed all of its parks, gardens and car parks across the UK, while Chatsworth House in Derbyshire has shut down until further notice.The National Trust has closed all of its parks, gardens and car parks across the UK, while Chatsworth House in Derbyshire has shut down until further notice.
The Peak District remains open, but the park authority is urging people not to visit during the Easter break and says it will have rangers patrolling the area. The Peak District remains open, but the park authority urged people not to visit and said it would have rangers patrolling the area.
Visitors have also been told not to travel to the Lake District, and police have stopped some people attempting to go there.
Snowdonia National Park in north Wales closed off access to its busiest mountains, while car parks have been closed at some Scottish beauty spots.Snowdonia National Park in north Wales closed off access to its busiest mountains, while car parks have been closed at some Scottish beauty spots.
What has the government said?What has the government said?
People around the UK are currently being advised to only leave their homes for the following reasons:People around the UK are currently being advised to only leave their homes for the following reasons:
Official guidance now states exercise should be done at home if you or any others in your household have potential symptoms of coronavirus.Official guidance now states exercise should be done at home if you or any others in your household have potential symptoms of coronavirus.
The government has said it is not going to stop outdoor exercise otherwise, but has renewed warnings against sunbathing during the current restrictions.The government has said it is not going to stop outdoor exercise otherwise, but has renewed warnings against sunbathing during the current restrictions.
On 16 April, police guidance was published about what constitutes a reasonable excuse for leaving your home. The guidance, which mainly applies to England, lists driving to the countryside for a walk as "reasonable" if "far more time" is spent walking than driving.On 16 April, police guidance was published about what constitutes a reasonable excuse for leaving your home. The guidance, which mainly applies to England, lists driving to the countryside for a walk as "reasonable" if "far more time" is spent walking than driving.
But it adds that driving for a "prolonged period with only brief exercise" is not reasonable.But it adds that driving for a "prolonged period with only brief exercise" is not reasonable.
It also says a person is allowed to stop for a break in exercise. However short periods of exercise followed by long periods of inactivity are not permitted (so a short walk followed by a period of sunbathing would not be permitted).It also says a person is allowed to stop for a break in exercise. However short periods of exercise followed by long periods of inactivity are not permitted (so a short walk followed by a period of sunbathing would not be permitted).
How would closing parks help?How would closing parks help?
It appears more people are going to the parks than at the start of the lockdown. It appears more people are going to parks than at the start of the lockdown - although the weather is a big factor.
Trips to parks and beaches on 5 April, the second Sunday of lockdown, were 29% lower than normal according to Google analytics data.
But the previous Sunday they were 52% lower than normal, suggesting the number of trips were creeping back up.
The government is concerned people might pass the virus between themselves in parks, defeating the purpose of the current restrictions on movement.The government is concerned people might pass the virus between themselves in parks, defeating the purpose of the current restrictions on movement.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said: "If you are sitting on a park bench, people tend to accumulate. It is very difficult to prevent that."Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said: "If you are sitting on a park bench, people tend to accumulate. It is very difficult to prevent that."
Prof John Edmunds, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explains there were three ways that the virus may be transmitted:Prof John Edmunds, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, explains there were three ways that the virus may be transmitted:
"The first two of these routes would be reduced to virtually zero out of doors," he said. "You are much less likely to touch an infected surface, and suspended particles will be massively diluted by the fresh air.""The first two of these routes would be reduced to virtually zero out of doors," he said. "You are much less likely to touch an infected surface, and suspended particles will be massively diluted by the fresh air."
That means that the remaining danger is droplet infection. To try to avoid that people should stay at least the recommended 2m (6ft) distance from others. However, a US study has suggested that coughs can reach 6m and sneezes 8m.That means that the remaining danger is droplet infection. To try to avoid that people should stay at least the recommended 2m (6ft) distance from others. However, a US study has suggested that coughs can reach 6m and sneezes 8m.
The government's current concern is that crowded parks and people sitting on benches could mean that people are not staying far enough apart, and so there is a danger of infection.The government's current concern is that crowded parks and people sitting on benches could mean that people are not staying far enough apart, and so there is a danger of infection.
What problems would stopping outdoor exercise cause?What problems would stopping outdoor exercise cause?
If outdoor exercise was stopped, it would be a particular problem for people without access to a garden.If outdoor exercise was stopped, it would be a particular problem for people without access to a garden.
Labour's new deputy leader Angela Rayner said it was "all right for people who have got big houses and huge back gardens" to tell people sunbathing while observing social distancing to stop doing so.Labour's new deputy leader Angela Rayner said it was "all right for people who have got big houses and huge back gardens" to tell people sunbathing while observing social distancing to stop doing so.
And Linda Bauld, professor of public health at University of Edinburgh, said: "The health implications of the lockdown that we anticipate - increased alcohol consumption, domestic violence, anxiety and depression, poor diet and decreased physical activity - will get worse if we confine more of us to our homes, without the hugely important respite that outdoor exercise provides."And Linda Bauld, professor of public health at University of Edinburgh, said: "The health implications of the lockdown that we anticipate - increased alcohol consumption, domestic violence, anxiety and depression, poor diet and decreased physical activity - will get worse if we confine more of us to our homes, without the hugely important respite that outdoor exercise provides."
"If the rationale is virus transmission outdoors, then far stronger evidence is needed to justify it.""If the rationale is virus transmission outdoors, then far stronger evidence is needed to justify it."
Carl Heneghan, professor of evidence-based medicine at University of Oxford, pointed to limited evidence that people who exercise suffer the symptoms of diseases such as Covid for fewer days.Carl Heneghan, professor of evidence-based medicine at University of Oxford, pointed to limited evidence that people who exercise suffer the symptoms of diseases such as Covid for fewer days.
He also stressed that people with other health conditions do much worse with the virus, and if people stop exercising they are more likely to have other conditions.He also stressed that people with other health conditions do much worse with the virus, and if people stop exercising they are more likely to have other conditions.
"If the government is going to stop outdoor exercise then it is stopping responding to evidence," he said."If the government is going to stop outdoor exercise then it is stopping responding to evidence," he said.