COVID-19 fears grip public transport users

Commuters who usually rely on public transport are hesitant to ride on buses and mini vans as they try to adhere to the social distancing advice given by health experts in a bid to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

A visit to some “trotro” stations in Accra revealed that passengers had adopted a ‘no-touching, no-coughing and no-sneezing’ policy once they sat in buses.

For instance, on a trotro ride from Adenta to Accra, three people contributed to pay the fare for four people, so the three could occupy the long seat meant for four people.

At the Adenta, Lapaz and Kaneshie trotro stations during the morning rush hour, the usual long queues were missing; rather, passengers boarded the vehicles and waited for them to fill up before they took off.

Drivers said the situation had arisen as a result of schools being closed down on the government’s directive last Sunday, while some passengers who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they believed it was because ‘people were trying to be safe, given the mode of spread of the virus and how fast it was transferred from one person to another’.

Observation

On buses from Lapaz to Accra and Adenta to Accra, it was seen that most passengers carried hand sanitisers and used them at least three times on the trip, while others covered their mouths and noses with their handkerchiefs or nose masks.

A few of the passengers who spoke with the Daily Graphic said if they had their way, they would stay at home, but since that was not possible, they were being cautious as they commuted.

It was also observed that there was minimal chatting among the passengers.

At the Kaneshie Station, a number of drivers and conductors were spotted wearing nose and mouth masks.

Safe riding

While some passengers said they would have loved to commute by taxi or Uber, which they considered a safer option, they said the fare was beyond their budget, as three people putting their fares together could still not get enough to secure an Uber ride.

Mr Bernard Siaw, an Adabraka-bound passenger, said he did not feel safe riding in a public transport, even though he could not avoid it.

“I am more careful about what I touch in a bus. I hold on to my bag as tightly as I can when I sit; everyone around me seems alert,” he said.

He said drivers and vehicle owners could do their part by disinfecting their vehicles regularly, adding that “it could help with the fight”.

Three passengers from Adenta to Accra said they opted for the back seat of the trotro they boarded because they were sure they were coming all the way to Ridge Roundabout and so there was little chance of having to adjust for someone to alight.

They too agreed to pay the fare for four people, so that they could ‘observe the social distancing rule’.

More education

Another passenger, Mr Timothy Nartey, said there was the need for more education, because while some people were cautious, others saw everything in religious terms.

“A lady I sat by yesterday who had her nose and mouth mask on was received with mixed reaction by other passengers, who kept telling her: “God takes care of us” and so she didn’t need the mask,” he said.

The Chairman of the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) at the Lapaz-Kaneshie station, Mr Haruna Ali, said he, together with the other station masters, were educating both drivers and conductors on preventive measures.

“We are alert and following this issue closely, but as leaders of this station, we want to be able to provide sanitisers for drivers, conductors and passengers too. But they are too expensive and we are unable to provide them,” he stated.

He called on the government to find ways of getting sanitisers for all at affordable prices.

For their part, station assistants of the Biakoye Highways at Kaneshie said they had asked drivers and conductors to wash their hands and were also trying to prevent preachers from preaching on the vehicles.

“We encourage the drivers and their conductors to wash their hands after each trip and also use hand sanitisers.

“Also, we are trying to stop people from preaching or selling on buses as part of precautionary measures,” Mr Paul Somuah said.