With more people escaping self-isolation for a springtime bike ride, infectious disease specialists say cycling may be one of the safer choices for outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
of the city’s bike paths for the summer, citing physical distancing measures.
“You can never say anything is 100 or zero per cent. But I think the risk is just so small,” he said. “If you’re using the same equipment, wash your hands afterwards. But apart from that, I can’t think of any high-contact surfaces that are shared. You can easily physically distance yourself from others. And it’s outside. Sounds like a perfect plan.” Part of the safety of cycling is the fact that it is done outdoors, said Sharkawy.
“The risk of sharing coronavirus by biking is probably a fair amount lower than when you’re walking next to someone,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Abdu Sharkawy. “The airstream is not quite as consistently directed between those people who are biking because you’re moving in slightly different planes.”Sharkawy said that the main concern with using bikes during the COVID-19 pandemic is that avid cyclers may want to exercise in groups.
When it comes to casual, recreational cycling, riding in single file may be less of a concern since keeping six feet apart will be easier, he said.An added risk to using bikes for activity is that exercise increases the rate of heavy breathing, which can increase an infected person’s ability to transmit the virus, said Sharkawy.
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