Can I walk your dog? (and other socially distant activities)
March 20, 2020 12:13 PM Subscribe
I am try to determine what constitutes effective social distancing. Risk threshold: I am basically assuming I'm a SARS-CoV-2 carrier until proven otherwise, since there are reports of asymptomatic folks testing positive. What do you think about each of the following activities?
(1) Open water swimming.
I can do this alone, safely, in view of others but at a VERY safe distance (much more than 6'). I do not feel like I'm putting others at risk. My own risk of injury (given my swimming practices - strong swimmer, been outdoors-swimming regularly all winter, towing a bright visibility bouy, sticking to nearshore swimming in shore-parallel currents in protected areas -- if I have an issue I can just... stand up) is very low -- along the lines of taking a walk. So I'm doing it, for mental health and exercise reasons. I am avoided crowded beaches (where lots of people are congregating currently out of boredom).
(2) Scuba diving.
I am not currently diving. I do not solo dive, so I would need a buddy to go diving. I am concerned about exposing my buddy even if we're 6' apart. Also, in a gas-share situation we'd be swapping spit. Finally, a dive accident would put extra stress on the medical system. Am I overthinking this? Or am I on the right track?
(3) Walking the neighbor's dog.
Does this put the neighbors at risk, if we don't get within 6' of each other? I am not currently doing this but I am staring longing at the neighbor's dog from my porch. I live alone and have no pets, so yeah. But there definitely seems like there's fomite potential here, leash-wise and dog-wise.
(4) Going to work.
One of my coworkers with whom I did not have close personal contact tested positive, so we are working from home this week. There is a possibility we'll be expected to work at the office again starting Monday after it's deep-cleaned (except for those folks who had "close contact" with the person who tested positive, they are at home for 14 days). I have voiced my own (strong) opinions, but I am continuing to do my job as per my employer's instructions, because I need my job.
I've been trying to think these through myself and I'd be grateful for some outside input.
(1) Open water swimming.
I can do this alone, safely, in view of others but at a VERY safe distance (much more than 6'). I do not feel like I'm putting others at risk. My own risk of injury (given my swimming practices - strong swimmer, been outdoors-swimming regularly all winter, towing a bright visibility bouy, sticking to nearshore swimming in shore-parallel currents in protected areas -- if I have an issue I can just... stand up) is very low -- along the lines of taking a walk. So I'm doing it, for mental health and exercise reasons. I am avoided crowded beaches (where lots of people are congregating currently out of boredom).
(2) Scuba diving.
I am not currently diving. I do not solo dive, so I would need a buddy to go diving. I am concerned about exposing my buddy even if we're 6' apart. Also, in a gas-share situation we'd be swapping spit. Finally, a dive accident would put extra stress on the medical system. Am I overthinking this? Or am I on the right track?
(3) Walking the neighbor's dog.
Does this put the neighbors at risk, if we don't get within 6' of each other? I am not currently doing this but I am staring longing at the neighbor's dog from my porch. I live alone and have no pets, so yeah. But there definitely seems like there's fomite potential here, leash-wise and dog-wise.
(4) Going to work.
One of my coworkers with whom I did not have close personal contact tested positive, so we are working from home this week. There is a possibility we'll be expected to work at the office again starting Monday after it's deep-cleaned (except for those folks who had "close contact" with the person who tested positive, they are at home for 14 days). I have voiced my own (strong) opinions, but I am continuing to do my job as per my employer's instructions, because I need my job.
I've been trying to think these through myself and I'd be grateful for some outside input.
The biggest thing you want to think about with outdoor activities is having to go to the ER. One fewer hospital bed means one more potentially dead from COVID-19.
So (1) is maybe risky but if you're a strong swimmer with open water experience you're probably fine. Honestly I'd say do it in freshwater and not the ocean.
(2) no way! Something goes wrong and you've got the coast guard airlifting you? People with that skill set will be in short supply very soon. Also the hospital bed thing.
(3) I think this is relatively low risk if you can bring your own leash? Although apparently dogs can get the infection? I don't think we know yet. So maybe avoid.
(4) If your gov't / municipality hasn't ordered shelter-in-place / no-essential gatherings yet, they probably will soon. If you *can* work from home you should do it. But I would also not recommend putting your job at risk while we there is so much uncertainty. You have to go here based on how hard hit you would be if you were fired because you continued to work remotely.
posted by dis_integration at 12:28 PM on March 20, 2020
So (1) is maybe risky but if you're a strong swimmer with open water experience you're probably fine. Honestly I'd say do it in freshwater and not the ocean.
(2) no way! Something goes wrong and you've got the coast guard airlifting you? People with that skill set will be in short supply very soon. Also the hospital bed thing.
(3) I think this is relatively low risk if you can bring your own leash? Although apparently dogs can get the infection? I don't think we know yet. So maybe avoid.
(4) If your gov't / municipality hasn't ordered shelter-in-place / no-essential gatherings yet, they probably will soon. If you *can* work from home you should do it. But I would also not recommend putting your job at risk while we there is so much uncertainty. You have to go here based on how hard hit you would be if you were fired because you continued to work remotely.
posted by dis_integration at 12:28 PM on March 20, 2020
1 and 3, perhaps wearing gloves for #3 that you can toss in the wash, or disposable rubber gloves, if it will make you feel better. (Dog fur is a surface like any other; I feel like people are over-emphasizing the relative risk, but it isn't zero.)
posted by DarlingBri at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2020
posted by DarlingBri at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2020
What is your age and health status? How many others are there at work? Are you providing an essential service? Risk is generally balanced against benefit.
(1) Open water swimming. seems pretty low risk, high benefit.
(2) Scuba diving. Innately higher risk activity that could require intervention Medium risk.
(3) Walking the neighbor's dog. Neighbors' germs are carried by dog. Assume others are SARS-CoV-2 carriers until proven otherwise. Medium risk.
(4) Going to work. Assume others are SARS-CoV-2 carriers until proven otherwise. Medium - High risk. Talk to other staff, see if you can negotiate with employer, take precautions if you do go in the office.
posted by theora55 at 12:51 PM on March 20, 2020
(1) Open water swimming. seems pretty low risk, high benefit.
(2) Scuba diving. Innately higher risk activity that could require intervention Medium risk.
(3) Walking the neighbor's dog. Neighbors' germs are carried by dog. Assume others are SARS-CoV-2 carriers until proven otherwise. Medium risk.
(4) Going to work. Assume others are SARS-CoV-2 carriers until proven otherwise. Medium - High risk. Talk to other staff, see if you can negotiate with employer, take precautions if you do go in the office.
posted by theora55 at 12:51 PM on March 20, 2020
Scuba seems low-risk for COVID-19 in specific: bodies are mostly covered (right?), and while face/hands may be touching the water, people aren't breathing that water, nor are they breathing air that's touching the skin that might encounter the virus - which is constantly being subjected to a whole lot of moving water, even if there's no soap involved.
The big risk of swimming is being close to people outside the water, not the swimming itself.
However, as noted, Scuba is not a low-risk activity on its own, and coordinating with a partner is likely to involve closer-than-6-feet discussions on land. I'd consider it "if it'd alleviate substantial distress, then maybe, but otherwise, don't add to the general risk potential right now." Doctors and nurses are swamped, and broken bones/sprained ankles don't go through a different system from people with breathing problems.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:07 PM on March 20, 2020
The big risk of swimming is being close to people outside the water, not the swimming itself.
However, as noted, Scuba is not a low-risk activity on its own, and coordinating with a partner is likely to involve closer-than-6-feet discussions on land. I'd consider it "if it'd alleviate substantial distress, then maybe, but otherwise, don't add to the general risk potential right now." Doctors and nurses are swamped, and broken bones/sprained ankles don't go through a different system from people with breathing problems.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:07 PM on March 20, 2020
I vote for contacting a shelter and fostering yourself a snuggly friend right now.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 1:18 PM on March 20, 2020
posted by Ms Vegetable at 1:18 PM on March 20, 2020
1 and 3 seem fine to me - 2 is a problem because, as you say, it's an inherently dangerous activity that could lead to you needing an ER, and now's a bad time for that.
posted by Ragged Richard at 1:33 PM on March 20, 2020
posted by Ragged Richard at 1:33 PM on March 20, 2020
Response by poster: Ms Vegetable I would love to do that! But my lease does not allow pets. :-(
posted by cnidaria at 1:38 PM on March 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by cnidaria at 1:38 PM on March 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don't do (2) because of the risk that you won't get adequate treatment in case of accident or injury.
I'd do (3) with my own leash (preferably), or double-gloves and handwashing immediately after. Someone's got to walk that dog (pretty sure you're allowed to do this even in CA and NYC), so if your neighbors are higher-risk than you are, it's worth doing.
I'd resist (4) as much as I could, short of inducing unemployment, unless you're in an essential industry.
posted by praemunire at 2:24 PM on March 20, 2020
I'd do (3) with my own leash (preferably), or double-gloves and handwashing immediately after. Someone's got to walk that dog (pretty sure you're allowed to do this even in CA and NYC), so if your neighbors are higher-risk than you are, it's worth doing.
I'd resist (4) as much as I could, short of inducing unemployment, unless you're in an essential industry.
posted by praemunire at 2:24 PM on March 20, 2020
Avoid all unnecessary risk, seriously. It’s less about the possibility of passing along the virus and more about tying up resources in the event of an accident: personnel, hospital beds, medical professionals, etc.
No scuba diving!
posted by lydhre at 5:29 PM on March 20, 2020
No scuba diving!
posted by lydhre at 5:29 PM on March 20, 2020
Response by poster: I'm sticking to (1), and leaving the rest behind. Got approval from my employer to work from home so that's covered.
What weird times we are living in.
posted by cnidaria at 7:00 PM on March 20, 2020
What weird times we are living in.
posted by cnidaria at 7:00 PM on March 20, 2020
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posted by muddgirl at 12:25 PM on March 20, 2020 [1 favorite]