COVID-19 CRISIS

Face masks, social distancing enough protection inside open-air PUVs –Vergeire

Riding an open-air vehicle such as jeepneys will not increase the risk of a person getting COVID-19 as long as that individual wears a mask and observes social distancing, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday.

Vergeire made the response a day after IBON Foundation called for lifting of the indefinite ban on open air public utility jeepneys (PUJs), citing foreign studies that say riding open-air vehicles would not pose risk of acquiring COVID-19.

“The mode of transmission is droplet infection. With or without aircon [in a vehicle], basta naka-mask kayo lahat, you are distant to the person next to you at hindi kayo cramped, the possibility of getting infected is very low,” Vergeire said in a virtual forum.

“With aircon or without aircon, if you do not wear your mask, mahahawa kayo kung meron man roon [na COVID-19 infected],” she added.

Vergeire, however, stopped short of recommending the return of jeepneys as mode of public transport since the traditional open-air jeepneys still have to be reconfigured to meet minimum health standards.

“Napakalaki rin kasi ng risk kapag sa jeepney. Ang kanilang upuan, facing each other, di katulad sa bus na hindi magkakaharap,” Vergeire said.

“May nakita akong prototype ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) na may spacing in between [seats], barriers or engineering control. Ang problema ay kung makaka-comply ba ang jeepney drivers dahil hirap rin sila sa pera. Kailangan nilang maglabas ng pera para magawa ang mga iyon sa kanilang jeepney,” she added.

Vergeire said that the DOTR should enable jeepney drivers to comply with such minimum health standards amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“DOH issued minimum public health standards, at ang magpapatupad nito ang kani-kanilang ahensiya. Ang magpapatupad nito sa jeepneys are DOTr. They should ensure that as we ease restrictions, the minimum health standards will be complied [with],” Vergeire said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has said that jeepneys will only be allowed to ply the roads again only if the existing mass transport available -- buses and modern air-conditioned public utlity vehicles (PUVs), among them -- won’t be enough for commuters.

The routes for buses and modern PUVs, however, are being increased by government authorities on a weekly basis which logically diminishes the chances of jeepney being allowed to ply the roads again.  --KBK, GMA News