Exercising outside during self quarantine: The do's and don'ts

Stay-at-home orders? Here's how you can still exercise outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic.

March 31, 2020 5:45 a.m. PT

As state after state is struck with stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, many people have been left wondering what they can and can't do. While you should abide by the mandates from your state and local authorities, there's one thing that almost everyone can still do: simply go outside. 

Yes, the US federal government has enacted a set of guidelines for Americans to follow, and most states have followed suit with their own sets of rules based on regional and local threats. These orders are in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep healthcare systems from being inundated. 

But that doesn't mean that you're restricted entirely to your home. While Americans should stay at home as much as possible and limit time in public places to only essential tasks such as buying groceries, going outside is still allowed. And that means you can exercise outside -- here's what to keep in mind and how to do it safely. 

Read more: 8 relaxing activities to help you cope with coronavirus stress 

Is it OK to go outside during the coronavirus outbreak?

Yes, it is OK to go outside during the coronavirus outbreak, as long as you practice safe social distancing and other guidelines on how to protect yourself and others from the novel coronavirus. You may not be able to go to the particular outdoor area you want to visit, but at the very least, you can get outside and walk around your own neighborhood.