For months, there’s been a relatively easy way to socialize safely during the pandemic: take it outside. But now, with cold weather creeping into many parts of the world, park picnics, socially distant walks and outdoor dining are about to get less appealing for lots of people. Experts have warned for months that indoor gatherings are prime places for the virus to spread—but does that mean there’s no way to see anyone aside from your housemates this winter? Here’s what five experts said about indoor socializing. Why is outside safer than in? SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread when someone comes into contact with large respiratory droplets, like those that escape with a sick person’s cough or sneeze.