Covid today Italy, squeeze on transport: new rules on the way

Covid in Italy, the squeeze on transport is coming. The ticket office is back, signs with rules on board, stop at the train with a suspicious case, in a maximum taxi in two are some of the new rules for buses, trains and subways in the ordinance issued by the Ministry of Transport together with the Department of Health, viewed by the Adnkronos. Among the novelties, therefore, the possibility of stopping the train if there is a suspected case of Covid, while the Green pass should be checked on the ground, therefore before boarding. But “if this is not possible, the check can be carried out by the on-board staff together with the check of the travel ticket”. “In the case of passengers who, on board the train, present symptoms attributable to the disease from COVID19 – the ordinance reads – the Railway Police and the health authorities must be promptly informed: at the outcome of the relative assessment on the health conditions of the passenger, the latter is responsible for deciding whether to stop the train to proceed with an intervention or provide special dedicated spaces. The railway company will subsequently proceed to the specific sanitization of the train affected by the emergency before putting it back into operating availability ” And again: the ticket office and control on board the metro, bus, tram and trolleybus are back. In fact, the new ordinance provides for “the gradual restart of ticketing and on-board control activities”, which “must be carried out in safe conditions, guaranteeing the personnel in charge the provision of surgical masks or masks with the highest level of protection (FFP2) and equipment of hydroalcoholic solution for frequent hand sanitization “. The doors to be used to get on and off the buses, in times of Covid, remain the central and the rear. But the front door, the one next to the driver, is also back in use. Provided there is a dividing panel to protect the driver and passengers. In addition to sanitizing public transport at least once a day, “it is necessary to adopt possible measures to separate the driver’s seat with distances of at least one meter from the passengers; allow passengers to get on and off the central door and the rear door using suitable waiting times in order to avoid contact between those who get off and those who get on. In the alternative “, and this is one of the innovations contained in the ordinance,” the possibility of using the door near the driver must necessarily be accompanied by the installation of a special protective separator of the driving area “. To contain the spread of Sars-Cov-2, which is increasing in view of the winter, in the transport and logistics sector” the necessary communications must be prepared on board the vehicles, updated in in relation to the evolution of the provisions on the subject, also by affixing signs indicating the correct behavior of the user. Failure to comply may involve the interruption of the service “. The measure is in force from the date of its adoption. In addition, on board taxis and other non-scheduled transport services” “avoid the passenger occupying the available seat next to the driver” Above all, “in order to respect the safety distances, no more than two passengers may be transported on the rear seats, spaced as far as possible, if not members of the same family unit”. the obligation to wear a surgical mask or a higher level personal protective equipment. Inside the vehicle, dividing bulkheads between driver and passenger should possibly be installed. These provisions, as applicable, also apply to vessels that perform non-scheduled transport services. The obligation of green certification is also in force for driver personnel. “” In the white and yellow zones, all training courses are allowed in the presence of the protocols and guidelines indicated in the aforementioned standard “, still provides for the new ordinance. “In any case – it says – the qualification exams of Iefp paths, as well as the training in the company exclusively for the workers of the company itself, according to the provisions issued by the individual regions, the training courses to be carried out are allowed in the field of civil protection, health and safety, individual training courses and those that require laboratory activities, as well as training in the presence, where necessary, in the context of internships, stages and laboratory activities, in accordance with the regulatory limits in force, provided that the risk containment measures are implemented “. It is however” possible, if the company organization allows it, to carry out remote training, even for workers in agile and remote work. It is particularly important to guarantee the courses relating to compulsory qualifications and certifications required of traveling personnel in all sectors “.