Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula briefed the media on Monday on measures to be taken by the transport sector as part of the effort to curb Covid-19 infection.
Public transport
According to Mbalula the taxi industry transports more than 16 million people and represents a critical sector which must be at the forefront of robust interventions and awareness to manage the risks. “We will implement an aggressive information drive to create awareness and promote preventative measures. Taxi and bus operators must become ambassadors whose task is to disseminate information,” he was quoted.
The Department of Transport will engage the leadership of the taxi and bus industries to mount an information drive working closely with the Department of Health on preventative measures in the public transport environment.
Random testing measures will be implemented in the public transport environment, with particular emphasis on commuter rail.
Cross-border transport
The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) will work with border and health authorities to ensure screening of truck drivers at all inland borders that continue to allow cross-border traffic as announced by the President.
C-BRTA is currently working together with the Department of Home Affairs to assist cross-border operators (commercial operators which are freight, buses, tour and taxi operators) with information required and to inform them about measures that are in place at the land border posts regarding their travel.
C-BRTA is reviewing permit issuance with a view to discourage all non-essential cross-border movement and will be in discussion with the Department of Transport, provinces and SADC member states.
The necessary regulations to enable these measures have been developed and will be implemented on time for the measures to kick in on 18 March.
Aviation
According to Mbalula the sector is high risk and measures have been put in place to address this.
Desktop exercises have been carried out across all airports in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advisory to limit the risk of exportation or importation of the disease without unnecessary restrictions to international traffic.
As an integral part in the airport operations value chain, the following are mandatory measures for the airlines and all handling agents:
All airline and/or ground handling staff carrying out assisted passenger services (specifically passengers with reduced mobility) are required to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (surgical mask and gloves) when facilitating arriving international passengers.
Passenger-facing personnel, particularly for all international arrivals, transfers terminal and the domestic recheck, are required to use PPE (surgical masks and gloves);
All handling agent staff that are at a high risk of contact are required to wear PPE (surgical masks and gloves);
All passenger buses will require additional cleaning/sanitisation measures to be implemented and Airports Company South Africa will increase oversight in this aspect.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a travel ban on nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, United Kingdom and China as from 18 March.
From a Transport point of view this means:
No foreign nationals will be allowed from these countries through our ports of entry, which include airports, sea ports and railways;
Charter operators will be re-routed to international airports that have the Ports Health capability to manage a suspected case. The following international airports will be ready to handle charter flights: OR Tambo, Lanseria, King Shaka, Upington, Polokwane, Bram Fisher, Kruger Mpumalanga International, Pilanesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
The Civil Aviation Authority has issued guidelines for infection control for all airlines in respect of passenger, cargo and baggage handling. These are guided by the general guidelines issued by the WHO.
In order to mitigate the risk, the Civil Aviation Authority will conduct ramp inspections on all identified high-risk airlines.
Maritime
South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) will immediately operationalise an operational plan for all ships calling at port, guided by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and WHO handbook for management of public health events on board ships.
Story: RC Myburgh
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