Yes, you can go outside. Enjoy Idaho's trails, parks — unless you're sick, coronavirus expert says

Idaho Statesman (Boise)

Mar. 19--As coronavirus spreads across Idaho and the U.S., schools and businesses have shuttered, events have been canceled and experts have urged -- or even mandated -- people to stay home.

People are being asked to practice "social distancing," which means leaving enough space between themselves and others to prevent the spread of the virus. For many, that has meant working from home and canceling all non-essential outings. But experts say social distancing doesn't mean you have to spend all your time inside.

"We do have to do social distancing ... but we don't have to go stir crazy," said David Pate, a retired doctor and retired CEO of St. Luke's Health System. Pate is also part of an Idaho coronavirus working group assembled by Gov. Brad Little.

"Based on everything we know, you actually might be safer outside than inside," Pate said in a phone interview.

He said coronavirus is predominantly passed from human to human when one person breathes in respiratory droplets that another has expelled by sneezing or coughing. Being outdoors often allows more space between people and better air circulation.

Pate encouraged people to spend some time outside, provided you're following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention best practices, like maintaining 6- to 10-foot distance from others, washing your hands regularly and avoiding touching your face.

Plus, Pate added, staying in good shape can help ward off COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

"This is a good time for all of us to take care of our health," Pate said. "Let's use the great outdoors we're blessed with here in Idaho as our gymnasium."

Boise parks, Foothills trails are safe social distancing options

Pate said spending time out of the house can be as simple as reading a book in your backyard or taking a drive. But if you want to get some exercise in, it's safe to go for a walk, ride a bike or hike.

"If people want to go walking, we've got great parks, we've got the Foothills," Pate said.

Though Boise Mayor Lauren McLean closed city buildings to the public on Monday, city parks and Ridge to Rivers trails were not affected, though some facilities like restrooms may be closed.

"I have no concerns about walking in the park," Pate said. He added that if you touch surfaces like tables or allow children to use playgrounds, you should sanitize the surfaces and wash kids' hands frequently.

The city of Boise on Wednesday announced it would extend its off-leash dog season at Ann Morrison and Optimist parks through the end of April.

Pate said hiking is another great option if you're maintaining distance from others.

"Just passing somebody (on a trail) is not going to be enough to get me infected if you're infected," he added.

David Gordon, director of Ridge to Rivers, also encouraged Treasure Valley residents to head for the Foothills.

"We hope people will use the trails," Gordon said in a phone interview. "They're out in the open with plenty of space."

Gordon added that the trails have been busy this spring and he expects them to stay that way.

"Now we've got kids out of school and fewer and fewer recreational opportunities, you can certainly expect to see more trail use," Gordon said. "I think people need to be cognizant of the fact that you need to practice giving that space (between others)."

Check on trail conditions at ridgetorivers.org or the organization's Facebook page to ensure trails aren't too muddy to use.

State parks also remain open, though the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation announced Tuesday that it closed hands-on activities and canceled guided tours. Camping is even an option for those who want to take their social distancing to the next level. (Though if you don't have gear, IDPR has suspended its loan program and REI stores across the country are closed, so plan to stock up elsewhere. Locally owned consignment store Boise Gear Collective has said it will stay open.)

"We're trying to get to a middle ground here: stay open but cut back on things, activities and lodging when appropriate, to kind of remedy any concerns," Idaho Parks and Rec spokesman Craig Quintana said in a phone interview.

Quintana said only a few customers have canceled camping trips over coronavirus-related concerns.

Idahoans are hiking, skiing, hitting the Greenbelt to cope with coronavirus

Already, Idahoans are taking advantage of the abundant outdoors for social distancing. In response to a post in the Facebook group "Hiking Idaho," several people said they spent time on Foothills trails and saw few other people. Others are gardening, geocaching or backcountry skiing (many Idaho ski areas have closed operations to prevent the spread of coronavirus).

Candice Waite commented and said she's taking her kids on a different section of the Greenbelt each day.

"Hoping to get the whole Greenbelt done in 2 weeks. LOTS of people are enjoying the river. It's good to see," Waite wrote.

Olivia Shan, who lives in McCall, said via Facebook Messenger that she's trying all kinds of activities in lieu of her normal workouts.

"I'm a wildland firefighter for the Forest Service and my gym is closed down so I have had to be super creative in doing outdoor activities that would take the place of my typical gym sessions," Shan wrote. "Saturday I climbed at the Black Cliffs -- some of it is closed due to the raptors nesting, so be careful where you go. Sunday I did an 8-mile snowshoe hike through Ponderosa (State) Park. Yesterday I went out to a hot springs in the South Fork (of the Payette River). Plenty of solitude out there!"

Some said they're heading outside to stay in shape, while others are doing it to pass the time, keep kids entertained or clear their heads. Pate and Quintana said spending time outdoors can be crucial for mental health right now.

"We think outdoor activity is healthy, particularly at this stressful time," Quintana said. "It's probably good to work off some of that stress in a productive way ... . It's an opportunity to get away, get into a different headspace."

"It's not going to do anybody's mental health any good to just stay in their house," Pate added. "But if you are sick, for the love of God, please just stay home."

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