COVID-19 and outdoor safety: Considerations for use of outdoor recreational spaces

The available evidence is synthesized in order to increase the understanding of the types of community-based precautions available and options for implementing them. [...] Mental health impacts and the benefits of green spaces The impact of the pandemic on mental health is expected to be severe. [...] Spending time in outdoor spaces is important for avoiding social isolation and engaging in physical activities, outdoor play or simply enjoying a change of scenery and fresh air.4,5 Due to restrictions on gatherings, movement, and related closures of workplaces and indoor recreational spaces, the pandemic has further amplified the overall contribution of outdoor public spaces to physical and menta. [...] There is some evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is shed via the feces17 and the virus has been detected in the toilets of ill people.18,19 In one study that collected air samples throughout a busy hospital environment, the highest virus levels were found in the air in a “mobile toilet”.20 This was attributed to people coughing or sneezing in an enclosed space, as well as the potential for aerosol. [...] Summary The management of outdoor public spaces to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus needs to be guided by updated evidence on the main routes of transmission as well as an understanding of the important beneficial role played by parks, green spaces, and other open areas in reducing stress and promoting health for people of all ages.