“The science could not be clearer,” three scientists, including an epidemiologist, wrote in the Washington Post recently, “The benefits of getting outside vastly outweigh the risk of getting infected in a park.”

The benefits for physical, mental, and emotional health are massive, especially when indoor sources of diversion and exercise are shut down.

“Outdoors,” the authors wrote, “the virus quickly disperses in the air, so others should not be anxious if a runner goes by — even if they pass within six feet.”

And while the virus can persist on surfaces for hours, sunlight seems to kill it pretty rapidly. The Department of Homeland Security found that the half-life of the virus on surfaces (the time it takes the virus to lose half its potency) is hours indoors compared to minutes outdoors.