Covid

The Indonesian government enforces Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB). One of the provisions contained in the regulation is the restriction on vehicle passengers. To avoid spreading COVID-19 in public transportation, taxis are still allowed to operate with a maximum limit of two passengers while ojek on line prohibited from carrying passengers.

How vigilance against COVID-19 transmission must be increased in public transportation, including taxis and motorcycle taxis on line?

A case of being infected with COVID-19 in a public taxi

Ayub Akhtar, a taxi driver on line Uber in London died of COVID-19. The 33-year-old man is believed to have contracted the coronavirus from the passenger.

A week before he died, Akhtar drove a passenger who kept coughing all the way. He drives a Honda Prius, a sedan type car where the passenger and driver seats are no more than one meter away.

After that, Akhtar began to feel the symptoms of COVID-19, namely his body temperature rising and coughing. The medical team asked the family to monitor Akhtar's condition at home. Until a few days later the cough was getting worse and short of breath.

He was taken to Croydon University Hospital in an ambulance. Sure enough, the test results showed he was positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

After testing positive, Akhtar's condition began to deteriorate and he was referred to St. Petersburg. George Hospital - the largest teaching hospital in the UK. He died on Friday (3/4).

COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData

1,024,298

Confirmed

831,330

Recovered

28,855

DeathDistribution Map

Cases of transmission of COVID-19 by taxi drivers from their passengers have also been reported in Thailand. He is believed to have caught COVID-19 from a tourist from China whom he picked up from the airport around mid-January.

Tourists wearing this mask cough all the way. On Monday (20/1), the 51-year-old driver experienced symptoms of COVID-19 infection, namely fever and cough.

At that time, the driver was not aware of the possibility of contracting the coronavirus because the cases had not yet spread outside China. He only took fever and cough relievers and rested at home, until the shortness of breath worsened.

He tested positive for COVID-19 at the Bangkok Regional General Hospital. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the taxi driver is believed to have contracted COVID-19 from his passenger because he has no history of traveling abroad and his entire family has tested negative.

Apart from these two cases, there are dozens of other cases of COVID-19 transmission from passengers to taxi drivers.

The risk of transmitting COVID-19 in public transportation

Transmission of the new coronavirus can occur from person to person through droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking. This splash can move up to a distance of approximately 100 cm.

In order not to be splashed by virus droplets from an infected person, you need to keep a distance of about two meters. The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a safe distance of 6 feet, or about 183 centimeters.

Of course, when someone sits in the backseat of a car or is riding on a motorcycle, it is impossible to follow these recommended rules.

Apart from being able to spread from an infected person to the closest person, the COVID-19 virus can also stick through touching objects or surfaces that have been contaminated. Taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers on line forcing them to stay in contact with strangers throughout the day.

That is why the risk of transmitting COVID-19 in public transportation, especially taxis and motorcycle taxis on line—Be it from driver to passenger or from passenger to driver — risky occurrences.

Regulation of restrictions on passengers in private and public vehicles

The Indonesian government imposes Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) with one of the provisions listed in it is passenger restrictions. DKI Jakarta, as the first province to implement the PSBB, also officially applies restrictions on vehicle passengers.

"We continue the policy that two-wheeled motorized vehicles can transport goods by application, but not for passenger transportation, and this will be enforced," said DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in a press conference via the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government's YouTube account, Monday (13/4) .

Here are the details:

1. A car that has two rows of seats can carry 3 people, namely 1 driver and 2 passengers sitting in the back.
2. A car that has three rows of seats can carry 4 people, namely 1 driver, 2 passengers in the middle row seats, and 1 passenger in the back row seats.
3. Two people can ride motorbikes as private transportation, provided that they live in one house as evidenced by the address on the KTP.
4. Ojek or ojek on line prohibited from carrying passengers. Taxibike on line may still operate for the delivery of goods or food.

Because being able to work from home is a luxury that cannot be applied to everyone. Such as taxi drivers and online motorcycle taxi drivers.

The service industry needs to take extra precautions to ensure taxi drivers or food delivery taxis are protected from spreading COVID-19.

Tips to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 on public transportation

For taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers, both conventional and on lineHere are tips that need to be considered to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 from driver to passenger or vice versa.

1. Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, it's best to rest at home (as well as for potential passengers). Ask the passenger to sit at the back keeping the maximum distance possible. Don't forget to always use a mask to prevent coronavirus.

2. Avoid direct contact and do regular cleaning

Use cashless payments to avoid direct contact. Wash hands regularly, use hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of 70 percent or better soap to kill COVID-19. Also avoid touching your face, especially with dirty hands.

Clean frequently touched surfaces at least twice a day using a disinfectant that kills viruses and germs.

Entering the era new normal, make it a habit to always carry hand sanitizer wherever you travel. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol so that germs can be eliminated effectively. You can also choose hand sanitizer with additional ingredients such as aloe vera and allergen-free fragrance to soften and prevent irritation to the skin of the hands.

Apply this habit and always maintain cleanliness wherever you are in an effort to maintain health and prevent transmission of COVID-19.