LRT2 bans talking inside trains to prevent COVID-19 spread

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) has banned talking inside the Light Rail Transit 2 trains to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Passengers are not supposed to talk to each other, and answer their phones while on the train, GMA News' James Agustin said Friday on "Unang Hirit" report.

LRTA spokesperson Atty. Hernando Cabrera said that as of Friday, LRT2 authorities are to warn violators and remind them of the policy, as the management will still need evaluate its next action.

"Kung talagang maraming pasaway, mapipilitan tayo na talagang gumawa pa ng mas strikto pa na aksyon laban doon sa mga nagsasalita, nakikipag-usap o gumagamit ng telepono, sumasagot ng tawag habang sila ay nasa loob ng tren," Cabrera said.

Cabrera also addressed concerns of some passengers regarding emergency calls.

"'Yung emergency kasi, kung titingnan natin, 'yung buong biyahe ng tren magmula Cubao hanggang Recto mga 20 minutes lang 'yan eh. So sa tingin ko naman 'yung haba na 'yon enough na 'yon para makapaghintay sila para magamit nila 'yung kanilang mga telepono paglabas o pagbaba nila ng tren," he said.

As part of their health protocols,  Cabrera said the commonly-touched areas at LRT2 stations, including handrails, elevators, escalators and ticket vending machines, are disinfected every 45 minutes, or one hour.

There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases among  LRT2 station employees, but two cases were recorded among their depot personnel, who are already in isolation, Cabrera said.

A week earlier, the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the private operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), announced that it is prohibiting its passengers from talking inside its trains in efforts to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. —LBG, GMA News