HomeStay active during the pandemic
It’s important to try to prevent getting COVID-19 by keeping distance between you and others and wearing face coverings. At the same time, it’s also important to be active, choose healthy foods and drinks, get enough sleep and manage stress. Staying in the best possible health year-round can help you prevent or manage serious diseases that worsen outcomes from COVID-19 and can help your body fight the virus if you do get it.
Having obesity can increase adults’ chances of having serious outcomes from the COVID-19 virus, including hospitalization and death and about 1 out of 3 Alaska adults has obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People with obesity are three times more likely to need hospitalization due to COVID-19 than people without obesity.
- CDC reports about 1 out of 3 Alaska adults has obesity, which can worsen outcomes from COVID-19
September 17, 2020
About one of every three Alaska children is growing up at an unhealthy weight. Alaska kids are now getting less physical activity and more non-academic screen time than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic began according to a survey of nearly 750 parents across Alaska:
Sports and activities
Play Every Day helps Alaskans stay active right now
The Play Every Day campaign is updating Alaska families about how to continue safe physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Play Every Day is a campaign with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to help Alaska children grow up at a healthy weight and encourage families to be physically active and choose healthy drinks.
- Public Health Webinar Series: Play Every Day shares new messages for Alaska parents about staying active during the pandemic and choosing healthy drinks
September 15, 2020
Staying active during this challenging time can help your physical and mental health — improving your mood and sleep and reducing your stress. Play Every Day shares the latest guidance from the health department about how to get out and play safely. This guidance addresses playing with your family or household members, social distancing when being active outdoors, and guidelines for wearing a face covering when you’re active and could pass others.
Play Every Day is sharing its updates in several ways:
- Publishing new information on the Play Every Day website
- Writing blog posts about safe physical activity
- Physical education teachers get creative to keep kids active this fall
August 2020 - Physical activity during the pandemic: What will recess and activity in schools look like this fall?
July 2020 - Families can make playground visits safer during the pandemic
July 2020 - Enjoy your Alaska summer, but play sports or watch games in ways that prevent spreading COVID-19
June 2020 - Should you attend that party or community event? State of Alaska shares recommendations for summer gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic
June 2020 - As Alaska reopens, precautions still apply but families can slightly expand their social bubbles to feel more connected with others
May 2020 - More updates for safe physical activity: Wear a face covering outside when you are exerting yourself and passing by others
April 2020 - Appreciate the joy of daily physical activity right now: Play Every Day shows how that’s done in a new video
April 2020 - Sharing new short videos about the importance of staying active right now, but doing so safely
- Posting daily to the Play Every Day Facebook page