Running outside without a mask

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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As mentioned above, Americans generally found outdoor running more risky than the experts did, regardless of whether a mask is worn.

“If you’re running outside, especially with a mask on, but even without a mask on, if you are in a spot where you can stay distant from others — it’s really pretty low risk,” Stuart said.

Using a public bathroom with multiple stalls

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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Both Democrats and Republicans rated this more risky than the experts did. Some on our panel noted that a single-person public bathroom might be even safer, provided it was cleaned regularly. But as noted above, this question had high variability, even among experts.

Having a housekeeper or handyman visit your home

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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There’s another sizable gap between experts and Americans here. Our experts noted that brief, controlled contact with others may be less risky than perceived, especially if proper distance is maintained and both parties wear masks.

How easily Covid-19 is spread via surfaces — like the handle of a utility closet, for instance — is still being studied. The CDC recently cautioned that contaminated surfaces remain a risk, though they’re likely not the main way the virus spreads.

Playing soccer with people outside your household

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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For an outdoor activity, we chose soccer for a reason – it’s a sport that involves more than a handful of people, and often brings players into close contact. Both experts and Americans gave this activity middling scores, though polling respondents were a bit more conservative.

Getting a haircut with a mask

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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The barbershop has become a political symbol, as some states allow salons to reopen and others keep them shut. Whether or not it’s safe to get a haircut — with or without a mask — had one of the higher partisan gaps on our survey.

Our expert panel didn’t agree on this one either, with risk tallies for the “masked” version of our question ranging from 2 to 8. (They were more united on getting a haircut without wearing a mask.)

Giving a hug to someone who’s not a member of your household

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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Hugging another person not from your household breaks one of the cardinal rules of social distancing — maintaining six feet distance. While both experts and Americans ended up with roughly the same average rating, there was a spread of opinions in both camps.

It could come down to how you hug, Stuart said. “There’s increasing evidence the really high-risk interactions are when you’re in an enclosed space for more than 15 minutes with someone who is infected,” she said. “So a hug where you have masks on and wash your hands after — that might be where some of the lower-risk votes are coming from.”

Attending an outdoor barbecue with about 20 people

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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This question had the widest gap between Democrats and Republicans of our survey, with experts falling in between. On the plus side, it’s an outdoor activity, with less opportunity for droplets from an infected person to circulate. But crowds are still inadvisable, and so is shared food.

Going to another family's home for dinner

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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Both Democrats and Republicans underestimate the risk of visiting another family for dinner compared to experts, the survey showed.

Attending a baseball game at a stadium

No risk at all

A great deal of risk

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Our expert panel was united on this scenario — going to a baseball stadium is a bad idea. Crowds, tight spaces and lines at concession stands do not mix well with social distancing. “It’s really hard to maintain a six-foot distance when you’re walking to your seat,” Stuart said.

While everyone rated this as the most dangerous scenario on our list, Republicans rated it less risky than Democrats and our expert panel did.