Are we allowed to go for walks during Coronavirus quarantine? 

Yes, but the answer could be no depending on some situations. 

Initially, in the US, medical experts said fresh air and exercise were important for your physical and mental health but advised Americans to use caution. New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver encouraged residents to use the city’s parks saying that “it's very important for people to get outside, parks are so beneficial because it can help reduce that stress." 

The official stance for many governments around the world was similar: If you were with your immediate family, you were encouraged to visit parks, but going to crowded parks, and hanging out with groups of people who weren’t from your household, was not.

Problems arose when parks started becoming too popular and crowds became unavoidable. 

Images of crowded beaches and parks started to flood social media, prompting many government officials to clarify their stance on outdoor recreation. 

It didn’t stop there however, as “quarantine shaming” started becoming more prevalent online as people began calling out other for not abiding by social distancing rules.

All of a sudden, going out for walks started to feel taboo again, and the rules seemed murky.

Advice for people going on walks

When you’re walking in groups or in crowded areas, that’s when you pose the biggest risk to yourself and others. Walking alone is fine.  Brian Labus, a professor in public health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, echoes this.

He stresses that you have to treat "going outside as a risk every time you do it". Additionally, he says “if you're outside walking by yourself, you're not exposed; if you're out walking the dog by yourself, there's no risk… it's when you have contact with other people that you need to be concerned."

If you’re going out for a jog or a bike ride, he recommends that you pace yourself and mind your surroundings, making sure to keep a distance between yourself and others on the path.

He also mentions that planning ahead and prioritizing to avoid crowds is essential. He recommends individuals "don't go where people tend to congregate", but walk through quieter places, like their own neighbourhoods. 

People living in highly populated urban areas may need to drive a bit to find a place that’s more secluded, but if you do your research and plan accordingly, this should be easy enough to do.

If you don't have access to a car, and your neighbourhood and its surroundings are too crowded, it's probably best to avoid going out at this time.