The coronavirus crisis reaches Montreal taxi drivers
As the government of Quebec (Canada) increases measures to protect the public from the new coronavirus, economic disruptions are taking place in the province’s fragile taxi industry.
Everyone is afraid of the virus.
Taxi drivers said they began to feel the pressure after the province released new directives aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
As part of the protocol, government employees returning from overseas travel are ordered to remain in their quarantined homes for 14 days.
Travelers are also asked to do the same.
Quebec schools, universities and daycares also closed for two weeks.
In addition to the public sector, the province is also asking employees who can work from home to do so.
No clients
Transport Minister François Bonnardel said in a tweet on Saturday that preventive instructions were provided to taxi companies amid the growing number of COVID-19 cases.
Among the recommendations, taxi drivers are asked to regularly clean their cars and to avoid touching their faces.
They should also stay home if they have a cough or fever, which are key symptoms of the coronavirus.
However, the measures do not only apply to workers. The province says taxi drivers should tell customers to cover their faces with a mask or, failing that, a scarf, if they have a fever or cough.
As the number of cases increases daily, taxi drivers said they clean their vehicle up to four times a day, but said the situation will not change if customers are afraid of the virus.
The coronavirus crisis reaches Montreal taxi drivers
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