Give space to others when out exercising, islanders advised

An unpublished study by Belgian researcher Bert Blocken warning of respiratory droplets travelling more than six feet during exercise has gone viral – prompting concerns about the spread of Covid-19.

The study advises that the walking distance of people moving in the same direction in one line should be at least 4-5m, for running and slow biking it should be 10m and for hard biking at least 20m. However, these findings have not yet been peer-reviewed or accepted for publication by a scientific journal.

Part of the major debate sparked by Blocken’s study is how likely these particles would be to make anyone sick even if they do travel that far.

Guernsey Bicycle Group’s Sam Field, who had looked at the study, said current guidelines state that social-distancing is still 2m and islanders should consider that and each other.

‘Irrespective of whether they’re walking, running, pushing a buggy, walking a dog, cycling – whether they’re panting, sweating, or not – GBG would ask that everyone give way and give space to everyone else when out exercising,’ he said.

‘GBG are a bicycle group, not biologists and as such are not qualified to speculate on the spread of the virus through breathing or sweating when exercising.

‘These are unprecedented times and everyone is trying to enjoy some exercise, which inevitably involves sharing some public spaces – yet at the same time people are trying to be as far away from other people as possible. Everyone wants to keep healthy and also keep themselves and others safe.

‘Hopefully everyone can treat others as they wish to be treated themselves and show our fellow islanders some compassion and patience when out in the public domain.’

High profile doctors, such as Scottish Australian Dr Norman Swan, have also gone on record to express some concerns about the secretions of those who are out exercising.

Jersey Water has introduced a one-way walking system around its Val de La Mare and Queen’s Valley reservoirs to encourage people to maintain social distancing, with posts on social media leading Living Streets Guernsey’s Pat Wisher to suggest it as a possible option in Guernsey in certain areas.

‘Certainly if it becomes a problem. I am sure Traffic and Highways will act appropriately,’ said Mrs Wisher.

‘I believe most people are courteous and generally the pedestrian will probably step to one side, [although] there was a comment on our Facebook page from a pedestrian walking on the coastal path from Town to St Sampson’s who encountered a cyclist passing very close to him. So, maybe we should be looking at our shared pathways and cycle contraflows like the one around the Baubigny schools.’

However, she hoped to see many more islanders take to the streets on foot and bikes rather than cars in the future.

‘I hope that more cyclists will continue biking when things get back to normal,’ she said.

‘We are really pleased to see so many islanders have taken to their bikes, meaning really quiet roads.’