Update - March 20, 2020: This story contains information that is out of date. Public health officials no longer recommend small gatherings, coffee or dinner with friends. Find our most recent stories on coronavirus here.

With a super-sized three-week March break coming up for Toronto children thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, you may be wondering: What’s safe to do with my kids, and what should I be worried about?

Sure, inside activities at home are an obvious choice, but what else?

Should you let your teen go to the mall with friends? What about that birthday party your grade-schooler was looking forward to? What about that family trip?

To help you figure out how best to safely pass the time over the next three weeks, the Star spoke to two Toronto epidemiologists and parents facing the same situation you are.

Here’s what they say.

Keep in mind, the facts of the outbreak are changing very quickly and this advice is based on the situation as of Friday. Check thestar.com for updates.

So what’s the bottom line?

“When we say ‘social distancing’ we really mean social distancing,” says University of Toronto epidemiologist and family doctor Jeff Kwong. For him, that means staying away from people “as much as possible.”

“They cancelled minor hockey in Canada,” adds Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at University Health Network in Toronto — “It’s hockey in Canada, does that not fully express the gravity of the situation?”

The message is to “not get nitpicky,” but rely on common sense.

“Hockey is cancelled, gatherings are cancelled, school is cancelled, NHL and NBA are cancelled, university is cancelled,” Bogoch says. “Act accordingly.”

So, do I need to keep my kids locked inside?

No, Kwong says. If you live in a house and have a backyard, letting kids go play outside is fine.

Going outside will be will be more challenging for families in apartments.

“Going out for a walk is probably fine,” Kwong said, as long as you’re mindful of not touching stuff — which, he notes, little kids tend to do.

Can I still go on my March break vacation?

Government officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — himself in self-isolation — are advising Canadians against all international travel. That includes the U.S. and the Caribbean. And cruise ships and resorts have proven especially dangerous in the outbreak.

So, again, act accordingly. Use common sense and don’t travel.

Kwong, for instance, has cancelled his own family holiday to St. Lucia with his wife and two kids.

What about letting your kids go to a birthday party?

Going to a friend’s house for a small dinner with only a few other people is probably fine, provided you trust everyone is healthy, Kwong says.

“But if you’re going to have a birthday party of, like, 20-30 kids and all their parents — that’s probably not a good idea,” he says.

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“That’s the whole reason we closed all the schools, because we want to keep all the kids apart.”

What about letting your kid go to a movie theatre or mall?

“I would recommend avoiding them,” Kwong says.

Studies suggest that coronaviruses may survive on hard surfaces for anywhere from a few hours or up to several days, and early information suggests COVID-19 is no different.

“What if you’re sitting in a movie theatre and the person behind you is coughing?” Kwong says.

Or what if someone coughed before you got there?

The whole idea is to minimize exposing yourself and your kids to that risk, he says.

What about a concert?

The Ontario Medical Officer of Health now recommends events with more than 250 people be cancelled. So, no.

What about March break camps?

At least in the city, that decision has been made for you. City-run March break programs are cancelled. Libraries, licensed child-care centres, recreation centres, and other city facilities are also closed until at least April 5.

So, what are the experts doing with their kids?

“Arts and crafts at home,” Bogoch says, with a laugh. “We’ll find things to do. We’ll run around and play outside, we’ll ride our bikes, we’ll have a wonderful time.”

“Probably a lot of family time, probably home-schooling” adds Kwong. “A lot of Skype and FaceTime.”