One of the Health Service Executive’s lead public health experts has said there is no reason to stop exercising outdoors during the Covid19 riders
HSE chief clinical officer Colm Henry stressed it was
crucial people in Ireland continued to social distance.
But he was clear exercising could still be done in Ireland once people complied with those measures, adding he believed people needed to exercise for their well-being even in the current crisis.
“It’s good to get out and it’s good to breath in fresh
air,” he said when asked on RTE Radio 1 by Brendan O’Connor about the wisdom of
swimming in the sea at this time.
Dr Henry continued of exercising generally: “It’s good to
walk; it’s good to swim in the sea; whatever it is you want, it’s good to get
out there.
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“Keep active, keep exercising. We’re going to have to get
through, this is a long haul for a few months.”
However, he explained “droplet spread” – fluids from
people’s mouth and noses shared between people unwittingly and unnoticed when
people were in close proximity – was the main means of Covid19 transmission.
Many cyclists will recognise “droplet spread” being possible, indeed likely, when riding in a group.
And while Dr Henry did not comment specifically on cycling, he stressed the risk of droplet spread in spreading Covid19, hence the need to socially distance.
That meant staying two metres away from people, apart from those you share a home with.
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While there is no ban on cycling in Ireland at present, Cycling Ireland has urged cyclists not to train in any groups and instead to ride alone.
Though Dr Henry did not comment on cycling, when his advice to stay two metres apart and his explanation of how the virus spreads is applied to cycling it is clear why Cycling Ireland is urging people not to cycle in groups.
Dr Henry added while the HSE was not advising people to
avoid public transport, the two-metre social distancing rule should apply on
public transport. And he also advised against sharing a car.
He said the actions people took, in complying with social
distancing and exercising stringent hand hygiene, will save lives during the
course of the pandemic and prevent critical illness and health workers falling
ill.
“We see evidence if compliance and a huge level of awareness,”
he said of social distancing when asked if it was not time to go into lock-down
mode as other European countries had done.
“We see fear, but the fear is transforming into
purposeful action. Every single person can make a difference.
“The principal is socially distancing; to keep two metres
away from other people as much as possible.
“We recognise it’s very difficult to do that within your
household, with the people you love. With our families we have to get on with
our own lives.”
However, this did not extend to visits to grandparents,
where far more caution was required especially if an older person had a
pre-existing health condition.
He added people should be concerned about washing their
hands and not touching their own faces. People should also exercise hygienic
practices when coughing or sneezing.
Anyone showing any symptoms of Coviv19, such as “a new cough or a fever”, should isolate themselves away from others, including family members in their own homes, until they were tested.
- The full interview with Dr Henry is available by following this link
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