Expert warns overcrowded public transport recipe for fresh spike in pandemic

… urge public and private firms to provide transport to their workers

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Both public and private companies should immediately provide adequate transport for their staff if the country was to avoid another spike in COVID-19 and a costly lockdown, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management Consultant Dr. Sanjaya Perera told The Island yesterday.

Commenting on congestion in buses, Dr. Perera said that it was obvious that most companies had not taken ‘work from home’ initiatives seriously.

“Buses are overcrowded and this is a dangerous situation. After 18 months of costly COVID control measures, we have learnt nothing. If public and private sectors insist that they want to bring employees back to office en masse, they must provide them with safe transport options,” he said.

Dr. Perera added that he had suggested to several top private companies to cut down on subsidies on meals and invest the money in transport. He noted that most institutions provided free refreshments several times in a day, but also canteens in various institutions were highly subsidised.

“However, since the beginning of the pandemic, most office workers are wary of eating out. They are bring food from home and I know that a lot of food is wasted. Perhaps, these institutions can reduce the subsidy on meals and invest funds so saved in transport for their employees,” he said.

Dr. Perera was also critical of the government circular that discouraged people in the same office from carpooling. While there is a risk in sharing the same vehicle, the risk is far lower than travelling in overcrowded buses and vans, he said.

“The problem here is that we are relying solely on the vaccine. Surely, vaccination is of great importance. However, countries that have successfully dealt with COVID have done so through good practices and protocols. We have had more than enough time to figure out what to do but we have not cared to do so.”