Coronavirus: New rules on face masks should not encourage more public transport use, unions say

Derrick Santistevan

People in England are being cautioned that new rules on using face coverings on public transport should not encourage more to use buses and trains.

From today, it will be required for many people to use a face covering on public transport to assist stop the spread of coronavirus

Rail employees’ leaders stated just essential employees should continue to use public transport, which cops – instead of frontline transport employees – should impose the rules.

Image:
A commuter using a face mask at Clapham Common tube station

Manuel Cortes, basic secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, stated: “The changes in the rules are welcome as they are most likely to lower transmission of the infection on the transport network.

” Nevertheless, this need to not be viewed as a thumbs-up amongst the larger population to use public transport.

“It must remain the case that only the key workers who are keeping us safe during the pandemic continue to use public transport.”

He likewise worried that people should continue to follow the two-metre distancing guideline.

Rail, Maritime and Transport union basic secretary Mick Money stated: “RMT has actually been campaigning for face masks to be made required for travelers on public transport and it is best that the cops and not transport personnel will be accountable for implementing this new legislation.

” We have actually recommended our members to prevent dispute circumstances in the event of any travelers declining to use face coverings.”

It is now likewise necessary for all healthcare facility personnel, outpatients and visitors to use face coverings.

The World Health Organisation has actually suggested using face masks in settings where social distancing is not possible, consisting of stores and public transport.

However it stated masks “on their own” will not safeguard from COVID-19

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There have actually been numerous research studies on the efficiency of face masks in suppressing the spread of coronavirus.

A modelling research study from the universities of Cambridge and Greenwich recommended that needing everybody to use a face mask in public, integrated with on/ off lockdowns, would avoid a second wave of coronavirus for 18 months.

The federal government’s clinical advisory group has stated the proof of coverings avoiding the spread of infection from a single person to another is “marginal but positive”.

A report released in The Lancet which utilized information from 172 research studies in 16 countries discovered that by using a face mask there is simply a 3% chance of capturing COVID-19

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