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Letters | Hong Kong fourth wave: what good does closing open spaces do?

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Group exercises at Victoria Park on September 12, when social distancing rules were briefly relaxed after the third wave of Covid-19 in Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong
In terms of social distancing and open spaces, past and current Covid-19 preventive measures have been to close off all public areas, including beaches, football or basketball pitches, and other such outdoor facilities under government control. That might sound like a good idea, but is it?
Advice from medical and government sources talk about strengthening one’s body through exercise, finding an open space to stretch, getting more sunlight, and so on. However, the spaces that are now open are only the passageways leading to or between the playing fields in Happy Valley, Victoria Park and other areas.

The number of people using these open spaces is becoming more numerous. Any guesses as to why?

Of course, this forces them to crowd together while the pitches etc around them are glaring at them empty of users, like a thirsty person in the ocean who is surrounded by water but cannot drink.

Why don’t our decision-makers in government come down to see this ridiculous situation for themselves?

The pitches can be kept open for organised activities such as football clubs, recognised social groups, schools and so on. All this requires is organisation with supervision, and this can be provided by the myriad staff now working from home or even with the staff now on site who seem reluctant to come out even now and then.

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