Taxi drivers are very susceptible to contracting the coronavirus due to their constant interaction with other people. In a bid to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, officials in Kochi, Kerala, have suggested that all taxi drivers install a fibreglass partition between the driver and second-row passengers. According to the officials, the clear fibreglass partition is easy to install and provides safety to the drivers as well as passengers.
The officials have also asked taxi drivers to adhere to certain new guidelines that will help in the fight against COVID-19. The taxi drivers will have to open the doors of the car, as the passengers won’t be allowed to open the car themselves. The driver will also provide the customers with hand sanitizer before they enter the vehicle. Furthermore, only two passengers will be permitted to travel in a taxi and both shall be seated at the rear. No passengers will be permitted to sit in the front seat. The passengers will have to compulsorily wear masks, while the drivers have to wear both mask and gloves.
Taxi drivers have also been asked to adopt cashless (online) money transactions for their fare, ensuring that there’s no physical contact between the driver and passenger. Drivers have also been asked to avoid using the car’s air-conditioning as it might facilitate the spread of COVID-19. Instead, drivers will keep all windows of the car open. Once the fare is complete, the drivers will have to clean the car after every ride.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
