Since last year, safe distancing measures have been imposed at our neighbourhood hawker centres to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Currently, only groups of 2 people are allowed, regardless of vaccination status. Safety netting has thus been used to cover up many seats to prevent diners from sitting in bigger groups.
However, it seems some elderly diners are having trouble with the netting at Chinatown Complex Food Centre—they keep tripping over it.
Thus, the netting is in the process of being replaced.
Apparently, the netting at Chinatown Complex has been a literal stumbling block for senior diners for a while.
On Thursday (9 Sep), an elderly uncle tripped on the netting and fell, beverage stallholder Ms Tu told Lianhe Zaobao.
Unfortunately, he had to be sent to the hospital as he developed breathing difficulties.
The problem is with the way the netting is tied, hawkers told Lianhe Zaobao.
They said that the netting is secured to the table leg and stretched to cover the seats next to it.
However, sometimes the netting will come loose and fall on the floor.
This could cause diners to trip and fall, especially if they’re elderly.
Stallholder Yan Qiaolong said most of the diners in Chinatown Complex are older, and someone will trip on the netting and fall almost every day.
Sometimes, after tripping and falling, the unfortunate senior will end up dropping their plates and bowls all over the floor, added the 56-year-old.
Ms Tu said she’d seen 5-6 elderly people trip over at the same seat.
Many of them use a crutch while carrying bowls and plates at the same time, so they don’t pay attention to their feet, the 53-year-old added.
This increases the danger as they’re more likely to fall, she pointed out.
Source
Since 1 Sep, hawker centre patrons must return their trays or face a fine—meaning diners will likely be carrying plates and bowls while standing up after their meal to look for the tray return station.
Thankfully, it seems that hawkers’ complaints have been heard, and the netting is being replaced.
A cleaning supervisor who didn’t want to be named told Lianhe Zaobao that staff started changing the way the netting was secured last week.
Mr Tang, a 49-year-old stallholder, told the paper that the netting in the “red zone” (based on the colour of the seats and tables) had come loose and was replaced a week ago.
However, the netting in the “green zone” was replaced 4 days ago, and the new design is much better.
A Zaobao reporter observed that the netting in the red and green zones of the hawker centre had been replaced.
As for the other zones, the cleaning supervisor said it might take some time for their netting to be replaced as the premises are large.
As we’re still amid a never-ending pandemic, we all know why safe distancing is important. Thus, netting is a necessary evil to ensure hawker centre patrons keep to small groups.
However, something meant to keep us safe shouldn’t ironically cause danger by tripping us up.
Any fall due to the netting would be calamitous for senior citizens. Hopefully, all those who’ve fallen are alright.
We look forward to the remaining netting being replaced soon so people will stumble no more.
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Featured images adapted from Shin Min Daily News on Facebook.
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