- There is no public activity that is risk-free during the coronavirus pandemic.
- But some activities, like going for a walk with a friend, are less risky than others, like attending a big indoor party.
- Here are 15 common everyday activities, ranked from least to most risky for catching the coronavirus.
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Our collective patience with the coronavirus is growing thin.
“We’re all getting tired of staying at home,” Jay Butler, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s deputy director of infectious diseases, said on a phone call with reporters earlier this month.
But, “the pandemic is not over, and it’s important to recognize that,” Butler said.
As restaurants, bars, hair salons, as well as many homes and offices continue opening up again, it’s good to remember that some activities are still far more risky than others when it comes to contracting the illness caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19.
"Here's a general rule of thumb: the more closely you interact with others, the longer the interaction lasts, and the greater the number of people involved in the interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread," Butler said.
Good handwashing practices, especially before eating or touching your face, keeping a safe distance from others when possible, and using face masks or shields when out in public are all still good practices to maintain. It's also prudent to avoid long visits to crowded spaces.
"This virus likes the possibility of close quarters," epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's technical lead for COVID-19, said during a regular press briefing on June 22. "Whether that's at home, or whether that's at work, we need to ensure that we make sure we prevent these outbreaks from happening."
Here are a few ideas for activities that are some of the safest choices right now, and a few of the worst:
