Which Outdoor Activities Are Still Allowed Under Local Stay-At-Home Orders? by grablick

Which Outdoor Activities Are Still Allowed Under Local Stay-At-Home Orders? –

D.C., Maryland and Virginia leaders have all issued stay-at-home orders to staunch the spread of coronavirus. Residents are only allowed to leave their homes to perform essential functions like buying food or receiving medical care.

But what about going outside?

All three orders do allow residents to go outside to get fresh air and exercise, as long as they follow social distancing guidance from the CDC and their local health department. The official guidelines urge thorough and frequent hand-washing and maintaining at least six feet of distance from others.

The three local stay-at-home orders are very similar, but D.C. is the only jurisdiction to explicitly ban outdoor activities with people outside one’s household and require residents to sanitize their recreation equipment before and after use.

Here are some answers to other questions about outdoor activities.

Can I Spend Time Outside In A Group?

You can’t gather in groups larger than 10 people (a Charles County, Maryland man was arrested on Friday for hosting a 60-person bonfire party), and you shouldn’t hang out outside just for the sake of hanging out. It violates both the letter and the spirit of the order.

You also can’t play team sports or go on a hike with a bunch of people who don’t live with you. D.C. has removed basketball hoops from city parks to prevent people from playing.

D.C.’s order says golfing and tennis are allowed as long as you’re playing with household members only. However, it might be hard to find a place to actually do these sports, since the authorities closed down all fitness centers and public golf courses and tennis courts. Private golf courses in Virginia are still open but ones in D.C. and Maryland are not.

Can I Walk, Run Or Hike?

Yes. D.C. and Maryland both list walking, hiking, and running as allowable activities. (Virginia’s order doesn’t explicitly list any activities.)

Dog-walking is also allowed, and the CDC reports zero evidence that pets can spread COVID-19. D.C. dog parks remain open, but Arlington County, Fairfax County, Anne Arundel County, and other local jurisdictions have closed theirs down.

Can I Garden?

“Gardening is NOT Canceled,” said Kathy Jentz, the editor of Washington Gardener magazine, in an email last week. She’s right. D.C.’s order explicitly allows for socially distant gardening.

Weeding is a-go, too. The Rock Creek Conservancy suggests pulling invasive species like English Ivy and garlic mustard from the area around your apartment or house to prevent them from spreading into the park.

Can I Bike, Skate Or Scoot?

Yes. D.C.’s order says it’s okay to bike, rollerblade, scooter, and skateboard. (One local skateboarding fan in D.C. took this advice immediately to heart.)

Just like auto repair shops, bicycle shops are listed as essential businesses in all three jurisdictions and are allowed to remain open.

Can I Visit Parks, Campgrounds and Beaches?

Yes, but before you head to a park, make sure it’s open. The National Park Service extended closures of local park facilities over the weekend, and large parts of the National Mall and Tidal Basin remain closed to discourage crowds.

Rock Creek Park, the national park that runs through D.C. and Montgomery County, is still open for hiking and other solo activities, but its athletic fields, outdoor exercise equipment and restroom facilities are closed.

Virginia has closed its campgrounds and public beaches to all activities except for fishing and exercising. Social distancing requirements remain in effect.

Marylanders are allowed to hunt, fish and crab for food, but only while following its social distancing guidelines. Boating for fun is not allowed.

One final small bit of good news: Experts believe that the abrupt halt in commuting will clear up air pollution around Washington, at least in the short term. So it’s a good time to go outside, even if you’re alone.

This story first appeared on WAMU.

The post Which Outdoor Activities Are Still Allowed Under Local Stay-At-Home Orders? appeared first on DCist.

This information appeared first at https://dcist.com/story/20/03/31/which-outdoor-activities-are-still-allowed-under-local-stay-at-home-orders/