Matt Hancock Warns Outdoor Exercise Could Be Banned

Sunday, 4th of April, 2020:

BBC News: "Exercise outside the home could be banned if people ignore coronavirus social distancing rules, the health secretary has warned.

Matt Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr that the government would "take action" if needed to control the virus.

It comes after reports of groups of people gathering in parks during sunny weather this weekend."

The video will start at the 1.09 minute mark. Should you wish to play the BBC section again you'll have to use the slider to reach this point (in the first section Matt Hancock is being interviewed by Sky News):


Like many other people, I support the NHS and the Government in their struggle to first combat, and then eventually overcome the threat posed by the Coronavirus.

I am concerned, however, that on the question of outdoor exercise, the majority of people who follow the Government's instructions and guidelines without hesitation are at risk of being unnecessarily penalized because of the actions of a minority.

For this reason, I decided to send the following tweet (see it on Twitter) to both Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock:

@BorisJohnson @MattHancock Please, no outright outdoor exercise ban! If it becomes necessary consider other options: No exercise between, say, 9.00 am and 6.00 pm; no exercise at weekends; or a combination of the 2. More at https://bit.ly/covid19dover6 #coronavirusuk #lockdownuk

I don't expect them to reply, or even take any notice, but I felt the need to say something!

The privilege of outdoor exercise is personally important because of a cycle accident I had at the age of 66 in January 2017 in which I fractured the outside of my pelvis and also sent the thigh bone through the inside:

In the above x-ray you can see two metal chains. The smaller one at top left has four pins in it, two of which are foreshortened.

The longer chain stretching across the pelvic region has three pins at bottom right and three pins, somewhat difficult to see in the glare, just above it's center.

Taken from a different angle, this second x-ray shows a third chain with two foreshortened pins that are, in fact, two of those visible in the first x-ray.

Additionally, two long pins have now been revealed at the top of the long chain.

There is only a natural degree of recovery possible from such an injury. By assiduously doing physiotherapy, along with other techniques, I feel I have made as good a recovery as I could.

Consequently, I have no complaints or regrets - but it does make outdoor exercise an important part of my life!

An abbreviated version of this post is also on Facebook.