Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has amended regulations governing public transport during the lockdown to extend taxi operating hours and allow them to carry up to 100% of their passenger capacity - provided passengers wear masks.
Mbalula is expected to give an update on the public transport lockdown regulations later on Wednesday.Public transport will be permitted to ferry essential-services workers from 5am to 10am and from 4pm to 8pm. Minibuses and midibuses will get an hour's grace to get to pickup and drop-off points before the official operating hours.
These vehicles can operate at 100% capacity “on condition that all passengers are wearing masks”. The regulations stipulate these be either surgical masks or N95 respiratory masks.Broken down, the regulations mean a minibus allowed to carry 10 passengers will be able to carry a maximum of seven passengers. A minibus licensed to carry 15 passengers can carry 10 passengers. A midibus permitted to carry a maximum of 22 passengers can carry a maximum of 15 passengers.
The Gauteng and Western Cape health departments have issued appeals to the public not to wear gloves and masks in the past few days — saying it could even place them at greater risk of infection if not used properly.
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