When to re-open?

All around the world governments have instituted lock-downs. Usually these are not open-ended and the government would give an end-date. But if the rate of new infection doesn't decrease, the government will probably extend the lock-down.

So, while it's not an open-ended thing, it is constantly renewable. This makes it very hard for judo clubs to plan for re-opening. Will the lock-down end in mid-April like the government suggests or will it have to be extended (and who knows for how long)?

Besides not having any clue when the tide will turn on the Covid-19 pandemic, another very relevant question is should the club re-open just because the government has lifted the lock-down? I guess to a large extent that depends which government you're talking about!

In the context of Malaysia, it cannot be said that the authorities have been lenient when it comes to Covid-19. People have been arrested for jogging. A man caught eating some food at a bus stop was detained by the police. And a condo, where 17 people were found to have been infected, has been placed on an enhanced lock-down. That means nobody goes in or out of that complex for 14 days. This affects some 3200 residents.

I think it's fair to say the Malaysian authorities have been pretty stringent about this, as they should be. That being the case, if the government says it's safe for businesses to re-open, I would tend to trust them. The last thing they would want is to see a new wave of the virus hitting us again. They won't lift the lock-down unless they are doubly sure it is safe to do so.

So, now you have the answer to the question: "When to re-open?" It's whenever the government says you may do so.