Experts: Walking in opposite direction heightens risk of catching virus in parks

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 20

Residents walking or running in opposite direction in city parks are more susceptible to catching Covid.

As per the experts, if people are moving in the same direction, it will prevent them from crossing each other on the same sidewalk and will help maintain social distancing.

Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor, Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, said: “Contrary to roads, tracks in parks are about 4-ft wide, which is insufficient for maintaining social distance while crossing each other. The way out is to walk in the same direction. Public participation is must in defeating Covid-19.”

During a visit to various parks and Sukhna Lake, it was observed that morning and evening walkers barely care about taking precautions.

A regular morning walker in a Sector 30 park, Rajesh Mohan, said: “People in parks are walking in the zig-zag and opposite directions. When they cross each other, it becomes dangerous as it can lead to infection transmission.”

Vinod Rana, a resident, lamented: “These days, people can be seen in groups planting saplings in parks without wearing masks let alone following other guidelines.”

“It is surprising that the local authorities are not initiating any campaign regarding this. Directions should be clearly stated for those visiting parks,” said Kuldeep Kumar, a Sector 18 resident.

Some RWAs are going to put up direction boards in parks asking people to walk in the same direction. However, at present, there are no active government or private efforts being made in this regard.

Baljinder Singh Bittu, Chairman, Federation of Sectors Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOSWAC), said: “This week, we are going to mark direction signs on tracks in some of the parks in Sector 21. Following this, we will request other RWAs to do it. It is very important that we walk in the same direction.”