The Risks of Summer The Risk of 10 Summer Activities During Covid-19

The Risk of 10 Summer Activities During Covid-19
For many of us, who have experienced two or more months of quarantine, we ask ourselves which activities will be safe for us to enjoy during the summer.


NPR, in its Heard on Morning Edition, May 23, 2020,  asked Dr. William Miller, an epidemiologist at Ohio State University to explain the risks of contracting the Coronavirus in this way:  “We can think of transmission risk with a simple phrase: time, space, people, place”.


Here’s his rule of thumb:  The more time you spend and the closer in space you are to infected people, the higher your risk.  Interacting with more people raises your risk, and indoor places are riskier than outdoors.


Listed below are 10 activities and their risks from low to high.  Experts advise, if able to, always choose outdoors over indoors, wear a mask and use social distancing of 6 feet if possible.

2.  Spending the day at a popular beach or pool: low risk
As long as you stay socially distanced both on land and in the water, this can be a safe activity.  Watch out for crowds at entry points and bathrooms. ​

3.  Going to a vacation house with another family: low risk
If both families have been quarantining or limited their exposure to others,  this is pretty safe.  Make sure you discuss expectations with other family before the trip.


4.  Exercising outdoors: low risk
Sports such as golf and tennis are safer than contact sports such as basketball and football.  And as for running, it’s a great form of exercise right now as long as you’re not on a crowded path (wear your mask).


5.  Going camping: low risk
Camping in an isolated area presents the least risk.  It’s more dangerous if you’re at a crowded campground and sleeping in tents together with others (not from your household).


6.  Going shopping at a mall: risk varies
The risk depends on what kind of mall it is, how crowded, it is and how much time you spend there.  Outdoor malls are preferable to indoor malls.  Avoid the food courts, go with a purpose and know what you're going to pick up or try on.


7.  Staying at a hotel: low to medium risk
Experts agree that staying at a hotel presents relatively low risk.  You may want to bring disinfectant and wipe down common surfaces.  Use the knuckle of your little or ring finger to press buttons in the elevator.


8.  An outdoor celebration such as a wedding with more than 10 guests:  medium to high risk.


9.  Getting a haircut: medium to high risk
The close contact and breathing is the primary mode of transmission, and keeping 6 feet from someone is not possible.  Make sure both hair cutter and customer wear a mask.


10. Attending a religious service indoors: high risk
Since people from different households come together for an extended time, there is potential for a lot of people to become infected.  Also, singing presents a high risk.