This https://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/features/the_covid-19_pandemic_and_its_impact_on_mountain_sports_-_a_study-13154
is believed to be the only academic paper addressing the topic.of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mountain sports, which has now been submitted to a scientific journal for publication. Article dated 28 October.
Worth a read. In particular there are detailed comments near the end about how to clean climbing gear. (The idea of just putting gear away for 72 hours may be a fallacy).
Broadly speaking, the academic study seems to confirm the idea that outdoor activities especially in a breeze are very low risk provided you keep your distance and clean any gear. Cold damp indoor places are significantly higher risk, especially for the over-sixties.
The authors also make the point that perhaps 70% to 80% of disease carriers have no/few symptoms.
The link is to an article, and a little time will elapse, apparently, before the formal study appears in scientific journals. Perhaps eventually, the findings will help adjust the legal rules such as the 6×2 rule in Scotland.
ANDREW
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