More and more people in Germany are in quarantine at home, day care centers, schools, cinemas, clubs and adult education centers are being closed, borders are closed and events are prohibited. The corona virus changes our lives massively.
In view of the constantly increasing number of infections and the increasing fear of the virus, it is no wonder that many people in Germany feel the desire to forget the worries for a short time while walking in the fresh air. Just let the sun shine in your face and not think about the virus – that was the motto for many people at the weekend.
But can we still go for a walk outside at the moment? Or are we putting ourselves in danger? What is the likelihood of getting infected with the corona virus while walking?
The virologist Christian Drosten of the Berlin Charité said on Friday (March 13th, 2020) in an NDR podcast: "At the moment we do not have such an infection density in Germany that one can assume the next infected person around every corner, who actually already has a fever, but is still dragging himself into the public eye ". There is currently no reason to forego shopping in the supermarket or a walk in the fresh air, because the droplets through which the coronavirus is transmitted are only briefly in the air and then fall to the ground. "It's not like you walk around when you meet, get infected"said the scientist.
In addition, we asked the Robert Koch Institute on Monday, March 16, 2020. A press spokeswoman for the institute reports:
In general, fresh air is good if it does not involve close contact with other people.
Please keep your distance
The Vice President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), Lars Schaade, confirmed this assessment in the press conference of the institute on Monday. It is important to avoid personal contacts and gatherings of people in the near future. "Everyone can and must be committed to reducing the risk of transmission as much as possible through their personal behavior when dealing with other people."So it doesn't make sense to go to private parties and festivals or to invite people to your home instead of in clubs.
Please stay at home if possible and limit your social life as much as possible.
However, there is nothing to be said against walking alone in the fresh air. However, according to Schaade: "If you are alone in the fresh air, you have no risk of getting sick. But people tend to gather somewhere to talk to each other and the like".
Basically, everything is good that "brings distance between people". This is how the curfews in Spain and Italy should be understood. "They are supposed to prevent such accumulations of a spontaneous nature".
It will be seen in about ten to twelve days whether the current measures to contain the coronoa virus in Germany will be sufficient, said the Vice President of the Robert Koch Institute.
Playgrounds are also blocked
As the "Spiegel" currently reports (March 16, 2020, 4:40 pm), in addition to public and private sports facilities, swimming pools and fun pools and fitness studios, playgrounds are now to be closed to the public.
Important note: For people in domestic quarantine, walks are not allowed (source: RKI). Here are tips for dealing with domestic quarantine.
The Ministry of Health publishes up-to-date information on the corona virus and protective measures here: bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus.html.
Would you like to exchange information on the subject of coronoa virus? Then take a look at our BRIGITTE community.
Sources used: Robert Koch Institute, twitter.com/rki_de, spiegel.de, ndr.de, hessenschau.de