FLATTENING THE COVID-19 CURVE

The taxi industry is an fundamental segment of the South African public transport system and plays an integral role in the country’s economy. Besides employing some 400 000 people, it drives over 14 million people to and from work each day enabling these commuters to earn a living and take an active part in the economy.

Like most other economic sectors, the taxi industry was grounded to a halt by the COVID-19 lockdown, which severely impacted the lives of drivers, marshals and commuters alike. The ease of regulations as we moved to levels 4 and down of the lockdown didn’t make it much easier for taxi operators. In fact, it exposed them to significant risks as personal protective equipment was scarce and expensive and drivers struggled to cough up additional funds as they themselves were trying to recover their lost income.

Without basic hygiene and screening measures such as hand sanitisation and temperature checks the taxi industry could easily transform from an economic enabler for commuters to a contributing factor in the country’s COVID-19 infection rate. AYO saw an opportunity to address the issue and donated 160 infrared thermometers and hand sanitisers to the Mitchell’s Plain, Strandfontein, Belhar and Parow taxi associations.

Timm Shai, a member of the Behar and Parow Taxi association, expressed his sincere gratitude for the donation and confirmed that “temperature readings will be conducted on each commuter, as it’s the first screening step in mitigating the spread of COVID-19”. Every vehicle will be allocated a thermometer that will be used to screen passengers on a daily basis. Taxi operators will be able to record passengers’ statistics and offer hand sanitiser to all commuters in the pursuit of their safety.