Suppose a person infected with COVID-19 travels in a city bus or a taxi, especially in Thimphu, there is no doubt the virus would spread like wildfire within no time. Looking at how public transport operates today, this is something anyone can predict. During the BBS’s investigation, we found out that not many wear a face mask, neither use hand sanitiser nor maintain physical distance.
Ever since Bhutan reported the first case of COVID-19 in March last year, everyone became alert. Washing hands, wearing a mask, keeping distance, and using Druk Trace App became the new normal.
One of the taxi drivers said they have to remind their passengers to wear a face mask and use Druk Trace App most of the time. He said most even don’t wear face masks properly.
“Most use the Druk Trace App but there are also others who don’t. I think they have become more complacent, especially after the second COVID-19 jab,” said Dorji Gyeltshen, another taxi driver.
Allegations are equally genuine, from the passengers’ point of view. A taxi passenger said people were on high alert when the pandemic broke out, but today, especially after the second jab, most are complacent. He said that he has also noticed public transport drivers not wearing a face mask, most of the time.
Similarly, another passenger, a student who always takes the city bus said he feels safer to travel in a taxi than by bus.
“In a bus, some people are careful but most are not. Not all the passengers wear a face mask,” said Kinley Tenzin.
City buses get crammed with commuters, especially during peak hours, but it is not time we point fingers at one another. Each one of us could pay our part.
It just requires being a little extra careful. A member of the Technical Advisory group Dr Sonam Wangchuk said maintaining good ventilation while travelling in vehicles is helpful
“Another important thing we advocate is to keep the windows of buses or taxis open so there is a flow of air and whatever the aerosols that people generate in the car by sneezing or coughing. The airflow will easily drive away the droplets,” he said.
Everyone is doing their part, but it remains more of an individual’s responsibility to make it better and make the resilience we have put together outshine the risks.
According to Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, anyone can remind each other of following the safety norms.
“For instance, if I go to the shop and witness someone not scanning the Druk Trace then I can remind him/her. Or the owner can remind them. If we all unite together and acknowledge our Gyenkhug well then that is the simplest that we can do for the country,” the minister added.
Nobody is safe from the virus until everyone is. And while countries around the world are already battling the third wave of the pandemic, we can’t let our guard down. As a cliché goes by, we be better safe than sorry.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Chayku
