Business owners in Pingtung are happy and worried at the same time as huge crowds visited Wanluan to enjoy the local delicacy "pork knuckle", bringing in money and a potential risk of infection. Restaurants operators said they had even more customers over the weekend than during Chinese New Year. However, many people let down their guards and did not wear a mask. The area's narrow lanes and alleyways also made social distancing virtually impossible.
Pingtung's Wanluan "pork knuckle street" is packed with pedestrians and motorists with long lines in front of eateries. It is a custom to serve moms with pork knuckle on Mother's Day, and lines began forming at 5 a.m. Vendors say they haven't been able to take a break since 7 a.m.
I've been waiting almost an hour. There were probably 60 or 70 people in line when I got here.
Lines are probably twice as long as in years past. I haven't seen anything like this in the 10-plus years I've been in business.
The average wait time was an hour, with customers throwing social distancing guidelines to the wind. Many customers also didn't bother with masks.
We're used to wearing masks, but I honestly just forgot to wear one today. And anyway, the pandemic is pretty much over and there haven't been any new cases lately.
I think I'm fine. It's too hot (to wear a mask).
Some said it was too hot to wear a mask, while others said the pandemic is basically over. Around 10 a.m., police closed the area off to traffic.
The station will have special traffic controls in place today around the area. We will also be patrolling to remind vendors and citizens about prevention measures.
The local health bureau and police also patrolled the area to ask people to wear masks.