Could severe mobility and park use restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic aggravate health inequalities? Insights and challenges from Latin America

Abstract

Parks and “green spaces” offer psychological restoration and ease mental health challenges (stress, anxiety, and depression), which are currently rising due to the pandemic and quarantine policies ¹. Parks also provide opportunities for physical activity practices in social distancing, which can increase resilience to the COVID-19 by preventing and controlling chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases ^2,3. However, parks can also provide hubs for community transmissions.