Relief with Park Reopenings Leads São Paulo Residents to ‘Forget’ Pandemic

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a lotus position, a woman seems unshakable. In the middle of Ibirapuera Park, she meditates with her eyes closed and, for a few minutes, manages to escape from a world that is still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is undeniable that the gradual reopening of parks has provided a sense of relief to São Paulo‘s quarantined population. Children playing outdoors, people retaking their morning walks or bicycle rides is comforting. But despite all the advantages, to leave the “outside world” or “forget” that we are experiencing a public health crisis is not a good idea.

Warnings about the rules of conduct and distancing, temperature checks, and even a disinfection booth (in parks such as Vila Lobos and Juventude) are not enough to alert some visitors that life is not yet back to normal.

In Ibirapuera Park, for instance, some people can be seen with no masks. When asked about the reason for the oversight, most of them promptly apologize and say they took it off just to “take a deep breath”. One can also find those who admit to the mistake, but confess that they “can’t practise any kind of sport wearing a mask.”

There is also a third, noisier, and more denialist group. When approached, a man with no mask on replied “you don’t know who you’re talking to”, “I have two post-graduate degrees.”

At Vila Lobos Park, which has strict access protocols, a group of soccer players train undisturbed. With the ball rolling, their masks drop to their chins. “The pandemic has disrupted our training. Even now, we’ve been interrupted by security while training,” said Carlos Eduardo, 18. Collective sports are still not allowed in parks.

The use of playgrounds and even gym equipment is also still banned. In the parks, this equipment is isolated with safety strips. Nevertheless, in Água Branca Park, a duo ignored the prohibition signs and indulged in exercises and games. “You can take a picture of us. Go ahead,” said one of the kids to the photographer.

In the same Água Branca Park, a group of elderly people gathers around Antônio Jorge’s guitar, 69 years old. With his mask out of place, he sang a song by Raul Seixas. Within minutes, a park security guard approached him and asked him to put the protection back on his face. “Please, the administration staff is on top of us (the security guards), put your mask on,” said the park official.

Still among the elderly group, one claim stood out: the return of the senior citizens’ dances at the Água Branca Park. “The hall has been closed since the start of the pandemic. I think if they are reopening things, they could reopen the venue. We’re wearing masks, we’re taking care, but we need the distraction of dance. We don’t intend to crowd,” said José Carlos Maciel, 71.

In fact, crowding is not an issue in the Juventude Park, in the north zone. Last Wednesday afternoon, five people visited the area. With the ETEC Juventude Park (School of Arts) still closed, the area is empty. Fortunately so for Fernanda Bovo, a 22-year-old skater, who after five months is training again. “For those who need space to safely restart their training, this emptiness is perfect,” she said.

And speaking of empty spaces, the lawn of Carmo Park, in the east zone, was reasonably occupied by visitors. Despite the absence of defined spaces on the ground, families were able to keep a good distance from each other.

“Now we can go out with the children. This provides a great relief. With caution, a lot is possible, like bringing your daughter to play in the park on a sunny day,” said Taís Almeida, 25.

Life under the sun seems to provide a ‘cure’ against the anxiety that the lack of outdoor activities has caused to many people. “My son had insomnia. He was not sleeping properly. When he was able to leave the house, go to a park, he got a lot better”, said Viviane Alguz, 45 years old, legal assistant at the Court of Appeals.

If this improved health, it also had an impact on certain pockets. The coconut vendor in Ibirapuera Park, Patrícia Oliveira, 29, said that she spent four months unable to work and survived solely with the government’s emergency aid money. “It was a very difficult period. It still is. Not everyone has returned to the park. However, now we have hope for better days,” she said.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo