Use common sense over masks, athletes advised
A BIT of common sense and choosing a quieter route to exercise goes a long way, a distance running coach has said about the guidance over face masks.
In addition to the new legal requirement from Saturday, face coverings are strongly advised to be worn in outdoor spaces, such as when exercising in urban areas.
While the States recognises it is ‘simply not practical’ to wear them when exercising heavily, it is still recommended if exercising in areas where other people might be around.
‘If you are exercising in an isolated area with no other people around, you do not need to wear a face covering, but you should have one readily available to put on if you see another person,’ Public Health said.
Like many sports, athletics cannot hold any organised events or training sessions at the moment, but coaches are still encouraging their athletes to stay fit and exercise.
‘When running, the main consideration is to run solo and select a time and place that maximises isolation,’ lead endurance coach Paul Ingrouille said.
‘For safety and security reasons some runners might want to exercise in socially distanced pairs, but beyond that athletes should follow the States’ guidance on face masks.’
He believed the consensus among regular runners was to always run with a mask or face covering, even if it is often pulled down whilst isolated and pulled up over the mouth and nose when in the presence of others.
Similarly, Velo Club president Mark Smith said that at the start of lockdown, members who chose to continue training during their two-hour exercise window were advised to follow the latest government advice.
‘We expect our members to use common sense and follow the guidelines and regulations regarding the use of face coverings,’ he said.
He noted that vice-president of Policy & Resources, Deputy Heidi Soulsby, recognised in Wednesday’s Covid-19 press briefing that it was ‘not practical’ to wear a mask when exercising vigorously.
But she also mentioned the World Health Organization’s advice that ‘face coverings are not recommended to be worn during exercise’ and that ‘social distancing should be observed when passing others’.
. Full details of the law around face coverings and the wearing of them can be found at covid19.gov.gg/support/community-questions
