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How to practice social distancing as you enjoy this beautiful weather

Social distancing still applies when you're spending time outside.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn — It finally feels like spring in East Tennessee and with no rain in Saturday's forecast, people flock to parks and enjoy the outdoors.

Dr. R. Micheal Green with Trinity Medical Associates said outside is the best place to be right now.

"Being outside gives you vitamin D, it makes you mentally better, it makes you less likely to hurt your family members from being cooped up inside so please go outside," he said.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed, as are several parks and playgrounds in Knox County.

RELATED: Some park playgrounds & bathrooms are closed to prevent spread of coronavirus

Many greenways are still open, but there's only so much room on the path.

When people pass each other walking or running by, they don't usually leave the recommended six feet of space between one another.

"The experts are saying six feet but if you're outside and you're in the open air, maybe leaving a little bit less space while with friends and family outside your house is fine," said Green.

That's with the family you've been quarantined with, not a huge group of people playing sports.

This picture captured at Sterchi Park shows way too many people too close to each other playing basketball.

Credit: WBIR

RELATED: 'Safer at Home' still means you can go outside while keeping safe distance from others

That's the type of gathering that officials are trying to prevent by putting social distancing guidelines in place.

Keep your space.

As far as for walking by someone on a path, Green said it's a lot easier for a virus to spread in a closed environment like a store than in the open air.

"Temperature makes a big difference in how viruses live, so I think being outside in the warm air probably makes it harder for that virus to spread," said Green.

Still, move over when people walk by.

If you feel that someone who is showing symptoms could have gotten to close to you, change your clothes when you get home.

Keep using hand sanitizer, washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and make sure to just enjoy nature.

"Be outside as much as you possibly can," said Green.

RELATED: Tennessee State Parks announces temporary operational changes amid COVID-19 concerns

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