With coronavirus fears showing no signs of abating, residents of So Kwun Wat in the New Territories called on hikers not to throw their used face masks on the ground along the nearby trail stretching from So Kwun Wat Village to Tai Lam Chung Reservoir — one of the city’s hiking hotspots.
What’s more, they also took it upon themselves to pick up the face masks, despite the potential, even if it was remote, of exposing themselves to potentially contagious pathogens, Headline Daily reports.
Tuen Mun district councilor Ma Kee posted photos to Facebook today showing what he said were piles of litter along the popular trail, including a handful of discarded face masks. Also pictured were apparently homemade flyers posted to remind hikers not to discard used face masks improperly.
The signs read: “Please keep the countryside clean. Please do not litter, or discard face masks and cigarette butts improperly. Walk a few steps [to the trash cans], both you and I can do it!”
感謝掃管笏村村民的努力於昨天 (23/02) 在掃管笏村通往麥里浩徑通道掛上提醒標示希望大家有公德心請各位郊遊人士自重尤其不要隨處丟口罩這會造成非常嚴重的衞生問題！#千島湖#大欖涌水塘#旺過旺角#衞生問題#請自重#小編C#一心一德#守護掃管笏
Posted by 馬旗 Ma Kee on Sunday, February 23, 2020
“I hope everyone has public morality and does not throw away face masks improperly,” Ma’s post read. “This will cause serious hygienic issues.”
Apart from the face masks, the discarded trash included plastic bottles, plastic bags, and other everyday rubbish.
With much of the city working from home, and citizens encouraged to practice so-called “social distancing” to stem the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, some social media users have taken to promoting what they bill as “anti-epidemic hikes,” intended to help Hongkongers fight cabin fever. One of the recommended trails was the Tai Lam Chung reservoir.
The popularity of the route has reportedly led to long lines of hikers waiting for minibuses, inconveniencing to residents of So Kwun Wat.
Meanwhile, the number of new coronavirus infections continues to tick up, with the total number of confirmed cases reaching 79 as of this afternoon.
