Covid-19 screenings not compulsory for public transport workers

PETALING JAYA: Covid-19 screenings are not compulsory for public transportation workers but they must strictly monitor their own health by following the Health Ministry's guidelines, says the Transport Ministry.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) said the public transportation workers were those in rail, bus, taxi, e-hailing services and p-hailing (parcel) riders.

Businesses offering motorcycle rider services are classified as “p-hailing services”.

Dr Wee said these workers nationwide were vital for Malaysians during the movement control order (MCO) period.

As such, he reminded all operators to take the necessary steps to ensure that their drivers and riders did not violate any healthcare and medical guidelines by the Health Ministry in its efforts to stop the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Covid-19 screenings are not compulsory for workers in these sectors at this time.

"However, in order to protect the health of operators, drivers, riders, customers, and passengers, the ministry strongly urges all workers involved to strictly monitor their own health by following the guidelines.

"Should any individual detect related symptoms, the individual should immediately cease work and seek the proper Covid-19 screening," he said in a statement on Thursday (April 23).

Dr Wee added that all operators, drivers and riders must abide by strict hygiene and sanitisation standards, practise social distancing and use contactless transaction methods whenever possible.

He also said they must use face masks, hand sanitizers and wash their hands after making each delivery.

"All p-hailing riders must sanitise their delivery boxes daily, while taxi and e-hailing drivers must perform the necessary sanitisation of their vehicles according to the guidelines.

"Should any worker become Covid-19-positive, the related operator must fully assist and cooperate with the Health Ministry to carry out contact tracing and management on the employee," he said.

For p-hailing services registered with a local authority, he said any rider who contracted Covid-19 or showed symptoms must immediately take the necessary steps to self-isolate and cease to provide delivery services.

He urged all p-hailing riders to download, install and register themselves under the mySejahtera app administered by National Security Council (NSC) as further validation for enforcement personnel.

The public can contact the Transport Ministry officers via email at [e-mail], on WhatsApp at 019-2907723, website at cccovid19.mot.gov.my and hotline number at 1-800-88-7723 (22 hours; rest from 6.00pm-8.00pm for Ramadan).

Alternatively, they can contact the National Operations Management Centre of the NSC at 03-88882010.