Getting Away From The Pandemic In The Great Outdoors

On a recent unseasonably warm March day in the Cleveland area, people of all ages grilled out, ran, dribbled basketballs and played near Lake Erie.

Some relaxed on hammocks strung between the trees or sat at picnic tables and shared a meal. Children played in the sand near the water that was still too cold from an Ohio winter.

A drum circle meets to play music for the socially distanced crowd recently in Edgewater Park.. [Lisa Ryan / ideastream]

As many have been forced to spend hours in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, getting outside has become a welcome escape. Some found new hobbies that brought them outside or made them adopt healthier habits.

“The risk of outdoor transmission is infinitesimally smaller than the risk of indoor transmission. Being outside in the open air, it would be nearly impossible for me to transmit COVID-19 if I’m walking alone,” said MetroHealth infectious disease specialist Dr. Amy Ray.

Being outdoors with a group of people is slightly less safe for COVID transmission, Dr. Ray said, but considering how low risk being outside is, she highly recommends it.

Cleveland Metroparks officials report that park usage is up because of the pandemic. Park officials say says the number of people using the many trails in the parks increased 80 percent when comparing May 2020 to May 2019.

People juggle and relax in hammocks recently in Cleveland's  Edgewater Park. [Lisa Ryan / ideastream]

Damon McDonald is one of the people who has been using Cleveland Metroparks more. He used to only work out in gyms, but on a recent warm spring day, he was doing yoga in Edgewater Park. He often does circuit training and other workouts outside. Even when he feels it’s safe to go back into gyms, McDonald plans to continue outdoor workouts. 

“The pandemic has got me outside, it’s became a lifestyle,” he said.

He even changed his diet to vegan due to COVID-19, because he realized certain foods were making him feel sick, and a plant-based diet helped him break down mucus in his body.

Wendy Kertesz (closest to camera) is the leader of Hike CLE. Pictured in the photo are other members of her group. [Wendy Kertesz]

Wendy Kertesz is the leader of a local hiking group that started in 2020, during the pandemic. She said being outside has greatly improved her health recently.

She’s heard from people who are joining the group or getting into outdoor activities because of COVID. The connection to nature will continue even after the virus is gone, she said.

“I think there’s a lot of people who miss that connection, and now that they’ve been out, are kind of reconnecting and rekindling that,” Kertesz said.

The parks are also busier than she remembers before COVID-19.

“We’ve seen more and more people out, especially some of the popular places are more crowded, a little more difficult to get into, especially on the weekends. And as it gets warmer, I think that’s going to accelerate again,” she said.

Chunyan McElroy is from Chardon, and she recently joined Wendy’s Hike CLE group.

“It’s a little nature, in the woods, making me relaxing, and I think hiking’s easy, you don’t have to have any skills,” she said.

But while McElroy feels safe being outdoors during the pandemic, there is still a group of people who might not be able to enjoy the outdoors because they are worried about the virus, she said

“It’s half and half. Some want to come out, some just afraid,” McElroy said. “Just keep your distance, your mask, have some protection.”

Chunyan McElroy hikes with friends in Big Creek Park. [Lisa Ryan / ideastream]

Safety isn’t the only reason that COVID-19 has pushed people outside. For some, like Manal Shahadea, who was hiking in Big Creek Park in Geauga County, being outside gives her the opportunity to briefly forget about the pandemic.

“When you’re out here, we’re not wearing masks, we’re out in the open, in the air, and so that’s great too. We forget for a minute about those masks,” Shahadea said.

Fellow hiker Cynthia Grubach agrees. Being outside now also has the added benefit of making her healthier, after long months indoors this winter, she said.

“I think a lot of people, we gained a few pounds during all this, so it’s a good way to get yourself moving and be healthy,” Grubach said.

And infectious disease specialist Dr. Amy Ray says health is one of the most important factors in getting outside.

“Just simply being outside is a great thing to do for your physical health and your mental health these days,” Ray said.