The Thai Government will consider a proposal to scrap social distancing rules on public transport from July 1st to cope with the expected influx of travelers when schools open again.
The proposed new measures are a joint effort of the Department of Rail Transport, Department of Disease Control, and the Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Center of King Chualongkorn Memorial Hospital.
According to international research, if measures such as wearing face masks and using hand gel are observed, infections are extremely unlikely to occur on public transport journeys where commuters sit together for less than 50 minutes.
The plan will increase crowd density on public transport form 50 percent to 70 percent as passenger numbers are expected to reach an excess of one million per day after schools reopen.
Public transport modes that exceed 50 minutes per journey will maintain some social distancing measures, while those under 50 minutes may operate without social distancing.
From next week, state transport agencies have been instructed to observe new guidelines in regards to social distancing.
These include allowing friends and family members to sit together.
Source: The Nation
