Plucky Atherstone pensioner John Gisbourne: Never mind coronavirus, I need the exercise to work off my bad back

GUTSY Atherstone pensioner John Gisbourne is only too happy to heed the Government's latest Covid-19 advice on taking one form of exercise a day.

He's been "staying at home" and not flouting the new two-metre social distancing regulations – but the decision was quite an easy one to make.

While the world's been going slightly mad in the last two weeks with the imposition of unprecedented restrictions on personal movement to help save lives in the fight against deadly coronavirus, the 78-year-old has been "laid up" with a nasty bout of gastro-enteritis.

Nub News caught up with the sprightly gent on his first outing from his flat to pick up a daily newspaper in town.

The morning sun cast a long shadow in front of him.

It feels a bit like that for the rest of us as we come to terms with a form of 'house arrest' when we haven't done anything wrong.

John told us: "Being in bed has left me with a bad back and I need some exercise to work it off."

He went cheerfully on his way – ready to embrace the new world order of life indoors and all that social distancing entails when outside the home.

Well, just to remind plucky John, Atherstone and the rest of North Warwickshire, we're allowed a walk, run or cycle once a day either alone or with members of the same household.

For Nubs News readers here is the latest Government guidance issued on exercising and using green spaces in a bid to protect yourself and others during the coronavirus pandemic.

It says: "The Government's priority is to save lives and the best way to protect yourself and others from illness is to stay at home.

"However, exercise is still important for people's physical and mental wellbeing, so the Government has said people can leave their homes for exercise once a day."

Everyone is urged to follow the guidance to stay safe:

• Stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not travel unnecessarily;
• You should only go outside alone or with members of your own household;
• Keep at least two metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times;
• Gatherings of more than two in parks or other public spaces have been banned and the police will enforce this;
• if you have a garden, make use of the space for exercise and fresh air;
• Take hygiene precautions when you are outside and wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors.