Hordes seek temporary escape from world's virus woes

Thousands headed outdoors, to restaurants, and shopping malls, on the second day of the Easter holiday in Hong Kong, despite fervent pleas by officials that the coronavirus could spread and cause an increase in the numbers of infected.

Many, it appeared, were escaping the depressing scenes of a human tragedy playing out in neighboring countries and across the world caused by the highly infectious coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan and ravaged mainland China before spreading unprecedented devastation across the world.

Many families and individuals were seen shopping and dining, and outdoors, in Sha Tin, Tai Po, Mong Kok and Cheung Chau's beaches and streets.

At lunchtime in Sha Tin's New Town Plaza, people were seen lining up outside restaurants, which imposed body temperature checks.

Crowds were seen in Tai Po market and while they were packed together in a relatively constrained space, some wore face masks.

Hundreds were also seen shopping in the commercial district of Mong Kok at electronics shops, footwear retailers and others. At some stores, there were limits on the numbers of people allowed to enter at any one time.