• Feature: Outdoor Exercise During the Pandemic: Serious Danger or Minimal Risk?
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Hundreds of thousands of amateur athletes were already accepting two more weeks of confinement without wearing their shoes when the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, appeared on television for the announcement. "If the evolution of the pandemic continues in a positive sense as it is doing now, starting next May 2, departures will be allowed for individual physical activity and walks with the people with whom we live," he said this Saturday and there was joy, there was even celebration, a respite in these uncertain times. Then, yes, the doubts: Where can I run? How long can I do it? Will I be allowed to ride a bike? Will I have to wear a mask? Some security measures are clear: as in the rest of the activities, group outings will be prohibited and a distance of two meters will have to be maintained, but for the rest, until the Government speaks again, only a comparison with others is useful. countries.

Where can I run?

The most restrictive option is clear: no one can go more than a kilometer from home. That obligation has already been established in Spain for the children's walk starting this Sunday and it is the same criteria that France imposes for its sports outings. But there are other examples that could serve the Government. In nearby countries less affected by the pandemic such as Germany or Portugal, the mileage of the departures is not limited, in a country with similar affectation such as Italy - which returns to the year on May 4 - there will also be no caps and in the United Kingdom the restriction is lax: one hour regardless of distance. In the United States it depends on each state, but most allow sport without maximums. Andorra, closest example, has restricted the distance to two kilometers. It should be borne in mind that, among European countries, only Spain and Italy have prohibited running during confinement and in the rest of the world cases are rare: India, Argentina, Chile, Malaysia or the Philippines.

How long can I do it?

The doubt is more or less the same: Will Spain choose the most cautious models? If so, permits for sports will be limited to one hour, as in France or the United Kingdom. But again, in Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and so many other European countries there is no limit. It is the path that Italy has taken. Then there are the time restrictions. Two countries have established them. France, which does not allow running between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. so that runners do not coincide with those who go to the supermarket or pharmacy, and Andorra, which has established a time system to distribute children, the elderly and amateur athletes. In this case, the time slots for sports are from 06:00 to 09:00 and 19:00 to 21:00. It is the route that the Generalitat of Catalonia likes, for example.

Will they let me ride my bike?

Another answer in the air. Only a nearby country has specified an explicit ban - Andorra - but as in France or the United Kingdom, mileage restrictions may jeopardize cycling. In some places it has been recommended to take special care, decrease the usual speed and watch especially with the restrictions of mobility between regions. Again Italy will give free way to cyclists and even fans of individual water sports such as sailing. Of course, all countries prohibit group riding and impose between one and a half to two meters of separation between cyclists.

Will I have to wear the mask?

A debate that has been addressed by multiple experts around the world. The obligation seems almost impossible in Spain due to the lack of material, but even the recommendation is in doubt. In many countries it is demanded, as it will be in Italy, but in others the opposite is requested, that he stay at home. There are reasons: if they get wet the masks lose effectiveness and the breathing problems they generate can be serious. Balance is tricky. According to an expert like Benjamin Cowling , a professor of epidemiology at the University of Hong Kong, who published a study in Science about a month ago, the best protection is social distance, not face masks. Cowling himself affirmed that the risk of contagion doing sports if the measures are followed "is very low".

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