Stay-At-Home Orders, Social Distancing, and Getting Outdoors

We’re how many days into this homeschooled, work-from-home, social distancing thing. You’ve read every book, played every game, and watched all the TikTok you can bear. Plus, there’s the City and County’s new Stay-at-Home order. Now what? It’s time to take it seriously old school and get outside.

“Getting outside is not only good exercise, it’s good for your mental health, too,” says Clint Grant, Active Living Program Supervisor with Mecklenburg County Public Health. “Being outdoors reduces stress and anxiety – something we probably all need a little more of these days.”

This weekend’s weather had folks flooding Mecklenburg County’s most popular parks. And that’s a good thing, so long as we keep our distance from one another. Right now, there are no plans to close Mecklenburg County parks and greenways, and that’s good news too. Wide open spaces like parks can be an antidote for cabin fever and an outlet for wearing down cooped-up kids. Destination parks, like Freedom Park and Latta Park, and other large regional parks are outfitted with portable toilets and hand washing stations, too.

(No matter where you go, remember to keep your hands off your face, and wash your hands as soon as you get back home.)

Under the new Stay-at-Home order, you CAN still get out to ride your bike, go for a run, take a walk, and even play golf, or engage in other forms of exercise. Yes, that includes being in places like public parks. However, you’ll still want to maintain that 6-foot space between other people and limit your group to fewer than ten.

Mecklenburg County has an FAQ sheet on its website. There’s also a hotline for folks who have questions about what is and isn’t allowed under the stay-at-home order. That number is 704-353-1926. It’s staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.