Deyalsingh: Covi19 compliance low in rural areas

HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said it appears compliance with covid19 regulations decreases from urban to rural areas in TT. He said he wanted to meet with the heads of maxi-taxi and taxi associations to discuss how their drivers could be protected against the virus.

Deyalsingh also said it was "a legislative and implementation nightmare" to pass a law that makes it mandatory for people to wear masks to protect themselves against covid19.

At a Ministry of Health virtual news conference on Wednesday, Deyalsingh said he "took a drive up to Sangre Grande last week to visit the Sangre Grande Hospital."

During that drive, he observed, "It seems that in the rural areas, as you leave Port of Spain, as you leave the town centres, the incidences of wearing masks and being responsible, seems to decrease."

Deyalsingh recalled seeing four men in a fruit stall on the Eastern Main Road in Sangre Grande, "playing cards around a table within three feet of each other and not one had on a mask. "

Expressing his concern about maxi-taxi and taxi drivers who may not be wearing masks, Deyalsingh disclosed that he asked Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan to set up a meeting with the heads the respective associations to discuss how such operators can protect themselves against covid19.

Over the last two days, Deyalsingh said he met with taxi drivers at the Croisee in Barataria and on South Quay. He said the drivers told him a variety of reasons why they were not wearing masks. Deyasingh said similar reasons were given to him by maxi-taxi drivers.

He said both sets of drivers must wear masks while working because they did not know who they were picking up. Deyalsingh added that when drivers wear masks, it also ensures their families are protected from covid19 when they got home from work. He praised Public Service Transportation Corporation bus drivers for wearing masks while on duty.

All public transport, including maxi taxis and taxis, are only allowed to operate at 50 per cent passenger capacity. They were not allowed to increase passenger capacity to 75 per cent when phase three of Government's strategy to reopen the economy was implemented on Monday.

Phase three originally involved that measure as well as allowing public service personnel to return to work. The latter happened on Monday. Retail businesses also reopened on Monday.

Deyalsingh said, on May 30, the Prime Minister said the passing of legislation regarding the wearing of masks in public "is now off the table." Should people not wear masks in public, Deyalsingh asked, "What do you do with them? Throw them in jail?"

He reiterated that "very strong moral suasion" was being used to encourage people to wear masks in public. Regarding people who cannot wear masks because of illnesses like asthma, Deyalsingh said some of those people were making their own masks to allow them to go out in public while treating with their health issues.