Health experts on Tuesday called on patients with heart or cardiovascular problems not to scale back on exercise during the pandemic, warning that the lack of physical activity could increase the risk of death.

The Hong Kong College of Cardiology (HKCC) interviewed 266 patients in July and August, and found that 31 percent of the respondents have been working out less since Covid broke out.

Over a quarter of those interviewed admitted they had not engaged in any kind of aerobic exercise for years.

Godwin Leung, the president-elect of HKCC, said patients with coronary heart diseases should do low to moderate intensity exercises if they’re in a stable condition, saying a South Korean study has found that staying physically active can reduce the chance of Covid-led severe illnesses by nearly half.

Leung also called on members of the public to work out more, saying a number of local studies have found that Hong Kong people are moving less and gaining weight during the pandemic.

He advised people to pay heed to the World Health Organisation’s recommendation, which says adults should take part in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, while adolescents should do so for at least an hour a day.