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mailmanMy wife, Karen, and I love Lansing’s parks. We enjoy watching the sunset at Myer Point. We take our dog for walks at both Salt Point and on the Lansing Center Trails. These beautiful spots provide us with relaxation after a long day at work, as well as on the weekends.

With the current coronavirus crisis they give us—and many others— somewhere to go if we want to leave our home for a change of scenery. However, these days, we have another factor to consider. Everyone on the trail must give one other enough room so that we can all enjoy a walk outdoors, but not risk spreading or contracting COVID-19.

I strongly urge that everyone outdoors follow the advice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

1. Stay, at a minimum, of 6 feet from everyone else.

2. Wear a facemask whenever you are out in public.

I’ve talked to several people who are upset by joggers who disregard the 6-foot clearance rule, especially if they approaching from behind the pedestrians, who have no time themselves to choose move away even further. Increasing evidence shows that infected joggers, because they breathe heavily while they are running, can expel particles of COVID-19 as far as 10-20 feet. And they leave a trail of invisible COVID-19 particles in their wake, ready to be inhaled. The same is true for people riding their bikes. When vigorously exercising, it is important that you keep a much greater distance between yourself and others. Remember, people can be contagious long before showing any symptoms. Some individuals can be contagious and never show symptoms. Therefore, please wear a mask outdoors if you expect to see people—whether you are exercising or not.

Stop the spread. Flatten the curve. Save lives.

The more carefully we adhere to social distancing, wearing facemasks, washing hands, coughing and sneezing into our elbows, etc., the fewer people in our community will become sick. And, the sooner our lives can get back to normal.


Sincerely

Joseph Wetmore
Lansing, NY
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