In taxi cars, hand disinfection must be provided due to COVID-19 and it is recommended to install a partition between the customer and the driver. Both the driver and the client must use respiratory protection. This follows from the order of the Ministry of Health. Alternative taxi services with unlicensed drivers like UBER/Bolt can run their services from May 25.
According to the epidemiologist Rastislav Maďar, who coordinates the working group of the Ministry of Health for the release of the measures taken, only the disinfection of those parts of the car that the passenger touched is obligatory after each customer. Other measures are recommended by the Ministry. “We leave it to them. It is possible that customers themselves will create pressure by ordering only cars that will have these bulkheads,” said Maďar.
According to the operators, some have already started to install these transparent plastic barriers between drivers and customers. Modrý Anděl and Taxi Praha were among the first companies to adapt such screens in the cars.
Taxi services also focus on other protective measures. These include regular disinfection and cleaning of cars, adjustment of payment systems or the maximum number of customers per ride. They also encourage drivers to adjust air circulation with air conditioning and to prevent further infection.
The coronavirus crisis has significantly reduced the demand for taxi travel. After Easter, according to operators, passenger interest has begun to grow slowly, but demand is still weaker than normal. Therefore, in recent weeks, some transport companies have shifted to the transport of goods, whether orders from stores or the delivery of purchases and food from restaurants.
