{"id":154757,"date":"2020-03-26T07:25:08","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T14:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=151857"},"modified":"2022-08-01T11:17:04","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T18:17:04","slug":"social-distancing-when-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/social-distancing-when-outdoors","title":{"rendered":"How to Spend Time Outside While Social Distancing\u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: After a great deal of careful consideration, we are temporarily closing our retail stores nationwide. <\/span><\/i>Learn more about that decision<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Please consult the <\/span><\/i>CDC<\/span><\/i><\/a> or your state health department for advice related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including information on <\/span><\/i>symptoms<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>testing<\/span><\/i><\/a> and <\/span><\/i>how to protect yourself and others<\/span><\/i><\/a> during social distancing. Follow local guidelines regarding travel, and check access to local, state and national parks before you visit. Remember that outdoor recreation has inherent risks; don\u2019t attempt activities beyond your experience and skill level. Your actions may present risk not only to you, but to your local community during these challenging times.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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With at least<\/span> 196 million U.S. residents<\/span><\/a> under orders to stay home to help stem the spread of coronavirus, some recreationists are asking if it\u2019s OK to get outside for activities such as walking, running or biking. In many cases, public health officials and other experts say the answer is yes<\/span>\u2014<\/span>as long as you\u2019re not sick, adhere to local orders, and practice social distancing and common sense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mandatory stay-at-home orders often allow exceptions for engaging in activities outdoors, generally close to home, like walking your dog, riding a bike or going on a run (if you stay at least 6 feet away from others). New York state guidelines<\/a><\/span>, for example, allow for outdoor recreation, though \u201cindividuals should \u2026 avoid activities where they come in close contact with other people.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

California officials<\/span><\/a>\u00a0say residents \u201ccan walk, run, hike and bike in their local neighborhoods as long as they continue to practice social distancing of 6 feet.\u201d (But they specifically tell people to avoid crowded trails and parking lots.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0COVID-19 is thought to spread easily and mainly person to person: <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n