Here's how students are staying safe and social with outdoor activities

With the pandemic making it hard to 'get out there' socially, UNC students have come up with safe and creative ways to interact with one another. 

We talked with students and professors about their recommendations for socializing on-campus safely. 

Making interactions meaningful 

Emily Sickbert-Bennett, director of UNC Medical Center Infection Prevention, provided information regarding safe social interactions. She also offered advice to students who may be struggling to be social during these times.

“It’s important to remember the key factors in reducing COVID-19 transmissions,” Sickbert-Bennett said. “That is, how many people you are with, how much time you spend with them, whether you are indoors or outdoors and how much spacing you can have so you can physically distance from people.” 

Sickbert-Bennett said she encourages students to think about what makes social interactions meaningful. She said she wants students to make the most out of every social interaction — while still doing it in the safest way that they can.

Getting outside

Audrey Pettifor, an epidemiology professor at UNC, said experts have found socializing outdoors instead of indoors to be a much safer option for students. Pettifor shared some examples of what students can do to socialize with one another — especially for those that are struggling. 

“I think doing things outside as much as possible is great, we know it’s much safer to be outside than inside,” Pettifor said. “There was discussion about having fire pits on campus that students could rent and there are outdoor sports activities to do.” 

First-year Ebele Ozoma is living on campus this semester. She said many students are going through similar issues right now because of the pandemic. 

 “A lot of people are in the same position socially, so it’s not much to stress over," Ozoma said. "If you’re not getting out there socially, it’s not the end of the world.”

Ozoma said when the weather is warm, she often sees people get together and play volleyball or ride bikes. But she said she understands the social struggles students continue to face. 

Pettifor acknowledged the mental health boost that social interaction gives people. 

“It’s okay to reach out; it’s not a sign of weakness,” Pettifor said. “Find ways to get outside and connect with things that bring you joy. Finding ways to connect with people is really important.”

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