Catriona McAllister said that more people appeared to have been walking, running and cycling in recent weeks, with favourable weather drawing thousands out of their homes for fresh air while government restrictions are in place.
That sentiment has been echoed by Assistant Health Minister Steve Pallett, although he admits he has received numerous emails from Islanders complaining about the number of cyclists now on the roads.
Current health guidelines limit a person’s outdoor activity to two hours per day – for the collection of food or medical supplies and exercise only. Travel time to and from your destination should be included.
Ms McAllister, Jersey Sport’s chief executive, said that the independent body – tasked with assisting Island sport at all levels – might conduct a survey after the pandemic to establish developing trends.
She said: ‘If anything good could come out of Covid-19, it looks as though people are suddenly starting to exercise, and it’s great.
‘More people appear to be out walking and running and we will have to look at how we can take these conditions beyond Covid to make people feel like
they want to continue with the increased activity.
‘We would really like to do some survey work on that once we’re through it, but obviously now is not the right time.’
Senator Pallett, who has political responsibility for sport, added: ‘It [increased outdoor activity] is something I’ve noticed too and a lot of other people have noticed, so much so that I have actually had a lot of emails from a negative point of view, upset that there are more cyclists on the road slowing down traffic.
‘But then again, what traffic are they slowing up in this crisis?’
Meanwhile, new working practices also seem to be altering exercise routines in the home, with Absolute Fitness owner Daniel Galloway saying he has noticed a 20% increase in attendance for live video gym classes.
‘A lot more people are attending now and they’re also getting their kids involved, which they haven’t done before,’ he explained. ‘It’s good seeing that people are spending more time with their family and making exercise a family thing.
‘You would hope activity levels will remain high but it comes down to whether people turn it into a habit. When the whole routine changes again, is that going to break the new habit?
‘Instead of them saying “I’ll just pop out for a run” at 10am or 3pm, will they do it when they get home after 5pm, following a hard day in the office?’
Ms McAllister added that the activity levels of less-mobile and vulnerable members of society, who ‘suddenly have to stay at home’, are also being considered through upcoming support services.
