COVID-19, Public Transportation and What You Should Do!

While measures are being tightened in San Pedro through a state of emergency, restricting travel, the Department of Transport is putting in place preventative measures that will help in containing the deadly COVID-19 disease.  The Philip Goldson International Airport closed today with the last commercial flight, a United Airlines airplane, taking off. While that was the last commercial plane to leave, we are told that the airport will be open for a West Jet plane to land on Wednesday.  In order to safeguard and protect the health of the public, the department will be enforcing certain protocols. The public is advised to report overcrowding of buses. The department is demanding that all transportation operators are required to clean and sanitize their buses, vans, boats, before and after each run.  These rules, which also apply to water taxis and ‘busitos,’ are being fully enforced, according to Chief Transport Officer Tirso Galvez. Transportation operators, however, are not fully cooperating.  The topic of public transportation was brought up during today’s Ask the Expert session.

Marvin Manzanero

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services 

“Whoever is ill should not be on a bus. That is the first thing that we need to say. Whoever is coughing in a bus really should stay home. There is no reason for you to be on a bus. I was in Belize City when I was told that somebody who was on a bus went from Benque to Belize City because he works and then he started to go and get check at Cleopatra White. Those things should not happen. We have been saying this for weeks. It should not happen.”

Alejandro Cowo

Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division

“It’s a challenging situation and the police is out there enforcing the law. I know that this morning there were several buses that were stopped on the highway that had excess passengers and the passengers were put out of the bus and the bus driver was issued with a ticket.”

Reporter

“So that is the enforcement aspect?”

Supt. Alejandro Cowo

“Yes that’s the enforcement aspect of the police department. We have to be cognizant of the safety that the Ministry of Health has been issuing and we must follow the guidelines if you want to be going on public transport. And if we need to feel safe, we have to follow the guidelines.”