Walpole Outdoor Activities Still On: Police

WALPOLE, MA — Walpole residents have been asking whether outdoor activities are still safe to participate in with the spread of the new coronavirus. Police told residents, while outdoor activities are still fair game, social distancing is still necessary.

"Avoiding people congregated in one area, staying at least six feet away from others, avoiding handshakes, high fives and unnecessary touching," were all included in the department's message. As of now, outdoor activities are open but that could be subject to change, police said.

The department reminded residents that gatherings of over 25 people were prohibited by Governor Charlie Baker as well as dining inside of bars and restaurants.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.