‘Consider others and socially distance while out walking’

I appreciate it is extraordinary times for all at the moment, myself included.

My daily treat is to try to go on a walk locally to make me feel good by appreciating the beautiful location that I live in and to make fleeting contact with other people.

As I live on my own, this is very important to me. However, I find myself having ‘Reggie Perrin’ style conversations in my head when encountering others.

The main problem is that groups of two or more don’t automatically go into single file when passing so it is almost impossible to keep to social distancing.

When making such a request, about half will scowl and give me a withering look and the other half are just not actively aware that they are taking up so much of the path.

I have encountered families of three or more holding hands across the width of a path and I sometimes hesitate to make my request because I do not want to unsettle the children.

On one occasion, the father told me I was the first person to request his family walk in single file and perhaps I should wear a face mask if I was so worried. I did try to explain to him that if I wore a face mask, it would only be for his family’s protection and would not protect me in the slightest.

There seems to be a common misunderstanding that a face mask will stop the person wearing the face mask from catching the virus. My understanding is the mask is to protect others if you cough or sneeze so that the mask contains the water vapour, including any potential infection.

Couples can easily go back to holding hands, families can return to moving in a horizontal group during their walks after they have passed others in their way.

It seems a reasonable request to make but it would be so much better if I did not have to make it. As with the situation regarding face masks, I am trying to keep out of their way to protect them. None of us know who actually has the virus.