Children return to outdoor exercise in China as COVID-19 subsides: survey

BEIJING - More than 90 percent of Chinese parents said their children have resumed outdoor exercise as the COVID-19 epidemic has waned, according to a recent survey by the China Youth Daily.

Nearly 54 percent of the respondents said their children do outdoor activities four days a week, which include jogging, jump rope workout and playing football.

A total of 2,004 respondents took part in the survey, most of whom are parents of primary and middle school students.

China's leading experts on COVID-19 have urged parents across the country to attach importance to children's physical health amid the epidemic.

Zhang Hongwen, head of the Center for Infectious Disease with Shanghai-based Huashan Hospital, warned against corralling kids and teens in apartments. Zhang said with epidemic prevention and hygiene measures in place, outdoor activities are doable now.

According to the survey, 74.3 percent of parents deemed preventive measures mandatory in open spaces.

Thirty percent of the respondents live in first-tier cities while nearly 50 percent live in second-tier cities.