Breakfast host Refilwe Moloto chats with Mandla Hermanus of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association.

• Cata Taxi Association says it could take legal action if talks with Prime Minister Alan Winde are unsuccessful

• Cata officials will meet with Winde on Thursday morning to discuss their grievances over unfair traffic department demands

• Mandla Hermanus of the association says Cata and Codeta vehicles are constantly targeted by traffic cops, especially on the N1 highway

• He says a “huge percentage” of their vehicles are seized and only released once traffic fines are unpaid.

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Members of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) are due to meet Western Cape Premier Alan Winde on Thursday morning to voice their grievances over what they see as unfair treatment by traffic cops.

A march was originally planned to the prime minister’s offices, but taxi bosses agreed to a formal meeting instead.

“We are considering going to the High Court if we don’t get any joy from the prime minister,” Cata’s general secretary, Mandla Hermanus, told CapeTalk.

Hermanus says taxi operators are unhappy with the way traffic wardens are treating the industry, despite partnerships with the Western Cape government.

You have this contradiction where when we talk to government we are partners, but when it comes to people on the street, traffic cops, we are treated differently.

Mandla Hermanus, General Secretary – Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association

He says taxi drivers regularly have their vehicles confiscated, even when they operate the Red Dot Taxi service, which is a partnership with the provincial government to provide transportation for public sector healthcare workers.

The Red Dot Taxi service, which launched in May 2020, has also provided transport for people who need temporary accommodation in Covid-19 quarantine and isolation facilities.

“We had a case where a van was seized just as it was delivering nurses to Brackengate,” Hermanus says.

You have instances where one of our government contracted vehicles is confiscated by traffic cops even when they have all the necessary paperwork to allow them to do so.

Mandla Hermanus, General Secretary – Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association

Once vehicles are confiscated, he says traffic officers require operators to pay any outstanding fines before their vehicles are released.

Hermanus described this as a form of “government-regulated extortion”.

I think they are trying to raise funds. We call it extortion legalized or regulated by the government…they use the pound to collect outstanding warrants.

Mandla Hermanus, General Secretary – Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association

Furthermore, according to Hermanus, Cata and Codeta taxis traveling on the N1 highway have been targeted by traffic officers since the closure of the B97 road between Mbekweni in Paarl and Bellville.

“Our taxis using this route with permits are seized as they pass along the Paarl area on the N1,” he says.

Hermanus explains that taxis pass through Paarl and operate on legal routes between Bellville and Worcester, between Bellville and Robertson, and between Bellville and De Doorns.

What we have also seen is that since the closure of the B97, the road between Mbekweni and Paarl, lazy traffic cops have decided to turn the N1 into a no taxi zone. We have legal routes between Bellville and Worcester, between Bellville and Robertson, and between Bellville and De Doorns.

Mandla Hermanus, General Secretary – Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association

More Local

A pilot taxi program has provided thousands of “green” miles to drivers and passengers since early last fall.

Denbighshire is home to North Wales’ only pilot of the zero-emission green taxi scheme.

The Welsh Government, which funds the scheme, recently set a target to fully decarbonise the taxi fleet by 2028.

The Council is one of the few local authorities in Wales to take part in the pilot project.

Twenty-eight taxi drivers took the wheel of four wheelchair-accessible Nissan Dynamo E-NV200 taxis as part of the “try before you buy” program which started in September 2021.

The pilot allows taxi drivers with a hackney license to try the vehicle for free for 30 days, including free electric charging at specific locations in the county, vehicle registration, breakdown coverage and l ‘assurance.

Over a 16-week period, from launch to January 20, the vehicles traveled 15,501 zero-emission miles across the county, delivering an average of 969 zero-emission miles each week.

Taxis also operated through Prestatyn, Rhyl, Bodelwyddan, St Asaph, Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen.

Cllr Brian Jones, Senior Member for Waste, Transport and Environment, said:

“It’s great to see how many taxi operators have stepped up to try these greener, zero-emission vehicles and see the benefits they bring too.

“The feedback we have received has been positive from both drivers and passengers. The taxis were mainly used as part of home-to-school transport contracts in the mornings and afternoons on most term days with a large contribution from children, some saying “it’s like traveling in a spaceship” while riding in vehicles.

“This is one of many electric vehicle projects we are running as a council, which will help create a healthier environment and reduce carbon emissions across the county.”

Following feedback from drivers participating in the pilot, the Council is considering expanding the program with the offering of a vehicle capable of traveling more than 300 miles on a single charge.

Phuket, like any attraction, relies on a positive image with potential visitors. However, such an image is still likely to be marred by high-profile crimes as well as a perceived lack of security.

Recent news reports of crimes on the island have put the reputation of the “Pearl of the Andaman” on the line. And they have arrived at the least opportune moment given that the island province has positioned itself as a main engine to revive the tourist sector of the country battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Provincial authorities have taken stock of the incidents and are moving quickly to address them to control the impacts on Phuket tourism, which is paving the way for the wider industry to restart in the country.

“We need to maintain a welcoming image. We have tried to prevent any setback to our reputation. Sometimes we succeed, other times we don’t,” said Pichet Panapong, deputy governor of Phuket.

negative publicity

Since the middle of last month, negative publicity has dominated the headlines, ranging from the overcharging of taxi fares, the theft of €5,000 (about 200,000 baht) from a family of Greek tourists and a scam at a call center that went after a Swiss who lost 57,000 baht.

But Phuket’s image as a safe tourist haven took an even bigger blow two weeks ago when an Indian gangster, Jimi Singh Sandhu, also known as Mandeep Singh, was gunned down outside his villa on Rawai Beach on February 4. Her body was discovered the next morning.

Phuket’s episode of bad press began on August 3 last year with the murder of Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, 57, deputy chief of protocol for the Federal Assembly of Switzerland.

Teerawat Thothip, 27, was arrested four days later after police found Weisskopf’s half-naked body at Ton Ao Yon waterfall two days earlier.

Police say the suspect admitted to sexually assaulting the woman after spotting her alone at the waterfall. However, she fought back so he drowned her, then covered her with a plastic sheet before stealing 300 baht from her.

Weisskopf’s murder came just over a month after Phuket reopened under the sandbox tourism scheme on July 1.

The incident touched a sore nerve for state agencies and frontline tourism businesses that had glimpsed a modest but sustained recovery in tourism following the reopening.

Authorities’ concerns grew after criminal cases spiked even as police worked hard to solve them.

The cases have seriously shaken the confidence of tourists, so much so that high-ranking police have traveled to Phuket to look into the investigation themselves. The Sandhu case prompted National Police Chief Suwat Jangyodsuk to travel to the province to follow up on the investigation.

Police said they have identified the suspects and warrants have been issued for their arrest.

Phuket has led the way by being the first province to “experiment” with reopening tourism.

From July 1 last year to February 10, 299,305 tourists visited the province, including those who registered in the country through the Test & Go program which offers an easy alternative to quarantine for fully vaccinated visitors.

Tourist arrivals to Phuket are expected to increase in the coming months.

At the same time, Warner Brothers’ Deep Blue Production moved its filming location from The Meg 2: The Trench film from Krabi to Phuket. The film will be shot from April 1 to May 15.

Early last week, the filmmakers sat down with Mr. Pichet to discuss the production, which is set to shoot in Tambon Patong.

Mr. Pichet acknowledged that crime was one of the biggest problems in the tourism industry. Yet the sooner the suspects are caught, the sooner the damage to Phuket’s tourist reputation can be contained.

Problems persist

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew said officials had addressed many issues. For example, the issue of taxis was being dealt with by officials of the Deputy Prime Minister and land transport offices with the help of private transport operators.

As for the robbery case involving the family of Greek tourists, some residents rallied to their aid and donated money to the victims, which shows the hosts’ compassion for their guests.

Overcharged taxi fares have long been a problem for tourism in Phuket. Despite all the efforts of the authorities to eradicate it, tourists continue to file complaints.

The question has sometimes reached its climax with fights between customers and taxi drivers, tuk tuk or motorcycle taxis.

Customers say the rates charged by drivers are arbitrary and unfair. The issue was raised by foreign diplomats who met with the governor of the province.

On January 28, a wealthy Thai tourist said he was charged 600 baht by a taxi for a 20-minute ride from Kamala Beach to Patong Beach.

The Land Transport Bureau then fined the taxi driver 2,000 baht. The driver also received demerits and was sent for retraining.

In July 2019, two Australian tourists filed a complaint against the driver of a public van who charged them 3,000 baht for a traffic-free 50km journey from the airport to their hotel.

Standardized tariffs

Jaturong Kaewkasi, head of the Phuket land transport office, told the Bangkok Post that tariffs were standardized across the province and that tariffs could be downloaded from the office’s website. Customers can always call the office hotline on 1584 24 hours a day.

“We listened to all parties before arriving at standard fares suitable for travel to Phuket. Fares may vary from other provinces,” he said.

The application known as Hello Phuket Service has been approved by the Department of Land Transport. Additionally, more metered taxis will come into service and offer fares that customers and drivers can agree on.

A source at a private transport company suggested that all modes of public transport in Phuket should be allowed to pick up customers at the airport to create competition. It would also deter unscrupulous practices in the transport sector.

Taxis should be prohibited from charging extra to pick up customers at the airport.

Mr Pichet said using an app to call taxis and display an estimated fare will make travel fairer and cheaper.

fake news

Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, chairman of the Thai Hotel Association, Southern Chapter, expressed concern about the overall image of the province. Stories about the taxi fare fiasco and local murders have been playing out on social media.

He said the high taxi fares were difficult to manage. Drivers picking up customers from the airport claim they have to charge double the normal fare because, coming from the city, they are only allowed to drop customers off at the airport but not pick up new ones from there.

He said some web pages have caused a stir on Phuket transport to stir up the hype. Some even make up incidents in an attempt to drive a wedge between Phuket taxi drivers and tourists.

Mr Kongsak said the killings that took place in Phuket stemmed from personal disputes. When they go out of their way to conjure up a false image of Phuket as a dangerous tourist destination, the province and its tourism industry suffer.

“I call on the government to take a strong stance. Illegal weapons must be eliminated and suspects must be brought to justice in a timely manner.

“Everyone has a role to play in being a good host,” he said.

Kongsak said tourist arrivals have stabilized in the province since February 1, with 2,000 to 3,000 tourists entering Phuket daily. Hotel occupancy rates are hovering between 30 and 40 percent, although that number will start to drop next week.

“But we still see a silver lining with Thai tourists,” he said, adding that domestic tourists are expected to take advantage of Phase 4 of the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) co-pay program and head to Phuket.

Single master plan

Sonthaya Kongthip, chairman of the Baan Bangtao-Cherngtalay Tourism Community Enterprise, said Phuket needs to follow a common master plan at the local level so that every stakeholder is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of local tourism.

The master plan should emphasize equity in the conduct of tourism activities, should ensure that tourists are treated fairly and ensure that tourism revenues are distributed more equitably.

“We have to put ourselves in our visitors’ shoes. It’s part of the charm of Phuket,” he said.

Mr Sonthaya said a consultative approach might work better to solve difficult problems. For example, tourists should be asked what public transport fares they are willing to pay before fares are set, taking into account the mountainous geography of the province which is a factor in fuel consumption.

Regarding taxi fares, he suggested holding a forum where public transport drivers could fully express their views.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai MP for Bangkok, Anudit Nakhonthap, urged the government to quickly repair Phuket’s image and avoid further negative effects on tourism recovery.

One way to solve the problem was to recruit more tourism police, as there are only 1,800 in the whole country, he said.

Roberto Villanueva peeks into rear-view mirror of his taxi as it turns down a side street towards Macuiltépetl, an ecological reserve on a mountain in the center of Xalapa. He’s been driving a taxi here in the capital of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, for 35 years, and has most of the routes through the city etched in his memory. “Almost muscle memory,” he says.

That’s no small feat in Xalapa, a sprawling, hilly city of 750,000 people. The streets of Xalapa evolved centuries before automobiles and are full of sharp turns, unpredictable name changes and nine-way intersections. Taxi drivers are expert guides through this urban maze, providing a service that connects private and public transport. Passing a hospital, Villanueva says he regularly takes people there; in Xalapa, hailing a taxi is often much faster than calling an ambulance.

Taxi drivers are vital to the city’s residents, but the challenges of the job can be as daunting as navigating its convoluted streets. The economy, the ongoing pandemic and the whims of local politicians have presented a series of hurdles for taxi drivers to overcome, all behind the wheel of a Nissan Tsuru, Mexico’s de facto taxi and one of most dangerous cars ever made.

Villanueva’s Tsuru idles at the entrance to Macuiltépetl. His passenger passes coins through an opening in a sheet of plastic – a makeshift virus barrier – and he counts them before nodding quickly over his shoulder. Then he follows another Tsuru taxi around the corner and out of sight, already looking for the next fare.

Hundreds of other taxis congregate around a roundabout on the southwest side of Xalapa. The location, known as Los Sauces, is one of the region’s major transit hubs. The circle and adjacent streets are lined with bus stops, small shops and food stalls, allowing drivers to grab a quick bite of picaditas-Veracruz’s beloved and sassy tortillas-waiting for fares. They’ll take passengers wherever they need to go, whether it’s somewhere else in town, a remote mountain town, or an entirely different state.

The growing propensity to make longer journeys reflects the evolution of work. Xalapa’s veteran drivers remember when the profession could support a family and retire a driver; the limited number of taxi licenses available meant that a driver leaving the profession could earn a large sum by selling his concession to the next generation. But the good old days of driving a taxi are over. They ended with the 2004 election of Fidel Herrera Beltrán as center-right governor affiliated with the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) of Veracruz, says Lorena López, a sociologist working for the Mexican government who has studied extensively taxi driving in Veracruz.

The Beltrán administration essentially privatized the taxi licensing process by allowing various companies to sell simplified taxi licenses to the public at a lower cost than an official government concession, a move the administration says , would create more jobs and stimulate the economy. The result was an oversaturation of the market. According to a government report, the total number of taxis in the state of Veracruz has increased from 17,000 to 75,000 in 20 years. That number has only increased since the report was published, thanks to factors such as cheaper concession prices in response to competition from Uber and other app-based ride services, López says. Today, Xalapa and surrounding towns have as many taxis as New York, but less than a tenth of the population.

Much of the little money taxi drivers earn is eaten up by day-to-day expenses. Fares are set by the regional government but are not updated frequently; most fares are under 100 pesos, or about $5. Gas prices continue to climb above $4 a gallon, and most taxi drivers belong to unions, or the unions, which charge $10 to $15 a day for the use of a vehicle, in addition to dues. Given the large number of drivers criss-crossing the city, “sometimes it costs less to stay at home and not work,” explains a driver who goes by the name of Arturo.

For most drivers, not working is not an option and they will be on the road 16 hours a day, seven days a week. Eating on the run, not going to the bathroom and barely sleeping means many drivers develop high blood pressure and heart and kidney problems, López says. Other occupational risks include theft and hijacking, standard risks for taxi drivers around the world. In addition to all of these challenges, the Tsuru presents its own unique danger.

The Tsuru (“crane” in Japanese) is a small four-door sedan introduced in Mexico in 1984 and essentially unchanged since 1991. It was designed without crumple zone protection, airbags, anti-lock brakes or stability control – a deliberate choice in an apparent attempt to keep costs low, thereby allowing a greater percentage of the population to have access to cars.

“Is Tsuru cheap?” Yes. Reliable? Yes. Safe? Absolutely not,” says driver Oscar Ortega with a sinister laugh. He taps the dashboard of his Tsuru, in gratitude or prayer, as he speeds down a busy section of the highway that winds around Xalapa.

The model’s reliability and ease of repair helped the Tsuru overtake the Volkswagen Beetle as the Mexican taxicab of choice in the mid-1990s. Over 2.4 million Tsurus were sold during its lifetime.

In 2016, a crash test video showed a 2015 Tsuru colliding with a 2016 Nissan Versa. The Tsuru imploded so violently that the viewer feels sorry for the crash test dummy inside. The Latin New Car Assessment Program (LNCAP), the consumer advocacy group that conducted the crash, awarded the Tsuru a zero-star safety rating and provided data showing that more than 4,100 people have died in the Tsuru accidents in Mexico between 2012 and 2017.

The auto industry’s importance to Mexico’s economy has always made lawmakers ambivalent about demanding higher safety standards, but LNCAP’s Alejandro Furas, general secretary of its New Car Assessment Program, believes that the startling crash test footage helped move the conversation forward. On the same day that LNCAP announced it would be performing crash tests with the Tsuru, Nissan said the notorious model would be retired by May 2017. Furas says this is long overdue, especially given the number of taxis on the streets and highways of Mexico which are Tsurus.

“The drivers are under pressure because they have to bring food to their families,” Furas explains. “Driving a taxi is a job – having a safe [place to work] should be an important part of it.

Around the same time, the state of Veracruz decreed that no taxi could be older than 10 years. The Nissan Tsuru, last built in 2017, will technically be illegal to use as a taxi in 2027.

The Tsuru’s retirement signifies a new chapter in the long history of Xalapa taxi drivers. Hopefully the change will mean fewer drivers and passengers will be injured or killed. But upgrading to a safer vehicle will be a financial barrier for many, perhaps drawing people away from the profession, reducing the number of drivers and restoring the balance between supply and demand.

Xalapeño mechanic Mauro Hernández Rodríguez stands in Calle Lázaro Cárdenas, the street in front of his shop. He rates every car as he passes, including a few Nissan Marches and Chevy Sparks, which are already becoming the city’s next generation of taxis. Hernández Rodríguez pokes fun at how expensive but unimpressive these models are. “The Tsuru is a workhorse,” he says. “Other cars only work best when going downhill!”

Most of the vehicles passing by Hernández Rodríguez’s shop are Tsurus, including half a dozen taxis. Typical of Xalapa taxis, most of them have a personal touch to make the driver’s house on wheels feel more like, well, home.

Across town, drivers are adding festive lights, family photos or figurines of saints – a Tsuru has even been spotted with an imitation Batmobile steering wheel. Customization speaks to the drivers’ fondness for the Tsuru and for the job itself. Villanueva and other drivers talk about the feeling of freedom that their profession brings, especially on days when the sun is shining, the windows rolled down and the prices stable. Tsuru taxis, like their drivers, aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, except on their regular trips through town.

ComfortDelGro Announces Taxi Fare Increases August 2

Although public transport remains the most economical travel option for most, some of us may prefer to hail a taxi or private hire vehicle to save time.

Shooting down a ComfortDelGro taxi will be slightly more expensive next month.

On Tuesday (February 8), the company announced price increases for downtime rates, distance rates and wait times.

It is their first price adjustment in a decade, which is needed to help taxi drivers cope with rising operating costs and inflation.

ComfortDelGro’s taxi fare hike is the first in 10 years

In one press release Tuesday (February 8)CDG has announced a series of price increases that will take place from 6 a.m. on March 1:

• Flagdown fares: $0.20 increase for all taxis
• Fares based on distance: increase of $0.02 for normal taxis; $0.03 increase for limousines
• Waiting time (per 45 seconds): $0.02 surcharge for regular taxis; $0.03 increase for limousines

CDG estimates that the price increases will result in an increase of around 7.7% in fares for a regular 10 km taxi ride during off-peak hours.

According to CDG, this is the first price change in 10 years, since December 2011.

Taxi operating costs are rising due to inflation and fuel prices

Justifying the fare increase, CDG says taxi drivers have faced higher operating costs due to rising fuel prices and inflation.

Over the past 6 months, fuel prices have reportedly increased by around 10% on average.

In contrast, inflation has increased by nearly 12% over the past decade.

CDG taxi drivers have seen their income drop throughout the pandemic, despite the aid granted by the government and CDG.

Therefore, the price change is deemed necessary to help taxi drivers retain their rice bowls.

Support our taxi drivers

In a healthy economy, it is natural for prices to rise gradually over time.

However, events like the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately affect taxi drivers. As a result, this makes tariff hikes essential for them to earn a decent living.

While the price change is likely to be unpopular, we hope members of the public can approach it with empathy and put themselves in the shoes of our taxi drivers.

Do you have news to share? Contact us by email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Image featured by MS News.

A taxi driver who tried to overcharge passengers at the Tokyo World Music Festival in Bristol has had his license suspended for six months.

The driver was arrested after a problem was spotted with their cab’s ‘taxi’ roof sign, as part of police traffic checks during the festival in Eastville Park in September 2021.

It was discovered that he had not used the meter for a fare within Bristol limits and had attempted to overcharge customers.

READ MORE: Bristol Wetherspoon CCTV released after teenage girl attacked on her very first night out

He was suspended for six months from his license after a report was presented to Bristol City Council’s Public Safety and Protection Committee.

Councilor Nicola Beech, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said: ‘The majority of taxi drivers in Bristol provide excellent service and spot checks help us maintain these good standards.

“Taxis are an essential part of a sustainable transport network, and we want everyone who chooses to travel by taxi in Bristol to feel reassured that they will have a safe and fair journey.

“If you think you’re overcharged and don’t want to confront the driver, ask for a receipt at the end of the ride and report the problem to us.”

The driver now has 21 days to appeal the decision. If they do not appeal, the six-month suspension begins after the appeal period ends.

If you have concerns about a taxi driver, you can visit Taxi complaints – bristol.gov.uk.

Subscribe to our new Bristol’s Court Insider Newsletter for the latest court and crime news – from arrests to trials and convictions

…Massive Covid-19 testing in 14 dzongkhags after local case emerges in Wangdue

With only two samples testing positive from Punatsangchhu settlement out of more than 7,800 samples taken from the 14 dzongkhags, which went through the blackout period yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that the dzongkhags will now open the zoning system for 72 hours with immediate effect.

The zoning system (mega zones, zones, or a practical system that suits local workgroups to implement) is seen as a cautious reopening while taking into account the likelihood of virus incubation. It will be followed by new health monitoring.

“Despite the detection of community cases in recent days, with the 224 samples from Gelephu testing negative and the 486 community samples from Phuentsholing also testing negative, we have decided to place them under a zoning system similar to that of other districts for the 72 next few hours,” the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Health workers took 6,655 samples across the country as of 6.30pm yesterday after the 24-hour ‘blackout’ period was enforced in 14 dzongkhags around 2am yesterday.

The decision came after a middle-aged expatriate worker from the Phunatshangchhu Hydropower Project (PHPA I) tested positive in Wangdue yesterday.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), more than 13,000 people have left Wangduephodrang since January 10. Sample collection continued until 9 p.m. yesterday and will continue today.

Yesterday the PMO, in its late evening update, hinted that it was possible to extend the ‘blackout’ period. The notification said the government would only be able to determine “outage” status and easing measures after the results of the samples and substantial evidence.

The analysis of the samples was in progress in all the Covid-19 screening centers when this article was submitted at midnight. In Gelephu, sources said sample collection was carried out overnight.

The PMO announced the 24-hour “blackout” in Thimphu, Wangduephodrang, Punakha, Paro, Gasa, Haa, Chukha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Dagana, Sarpang, Tsirang, Samtse and Zhemgang with immediate effect.

No movement of people and vehicles was allowed unless authorized for essential purposes. Health-related emergency travel, which includes vehicles traveling to hospitals and health facilities, was permitted.

In the gewogs of 14 dzongkhags, individuals were allowed to go out and attend to important duties within the premises.

In addition to testing recent travelers at 14 dzongkhags, regular testing continued at the other six dzongkhags. The highest samples collected were from Thimphu with 1,319, followed by Paro with 1,237, Tsirang with 1,006 and Wangduephodrang with 830 samples collected.

The Ministry of Health also urged people who traveled out of Wangdue from January 1 this year to report for Covid-19 testing at their mega zone’s testing center, one from each cohort or family who has traveled together.

Testing centers are available in four mega zones in Thimphu; north to Dechencholing Upper Secondary School, south to Dr Tobgyel School, Core Area 1 (C1) to Mothithang Upper Secondary School and Core Area 2 to RBP Flu Clinic.

There were rumors that the blackout period would be extended for another 72 hours, except for yesterday. A WhatsApp group message believed to be shared between healthcare staff went viral last night suggesting the restrictions would remain and sparking speculation.

A draft proposal from the Southern Covid-19 task force in Phuentsholing on a seven-day lockdown has been leaked and published on mainstream media, causing some confusion among netizens.

wangdue

Over 900 samples were collected last night from the community and those who came into contact with the 35-year-old man who tested positive on January 15 in Wangdue community.

The man is an employee of the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), a construction company for the Punatsangchhu I Hydropower Project (PHPA I).

The man, who has been working for about a year in Bhutan, went to the nearest flu clinic with symptoms.

After testing positive in an antigen test on January 14, the man was kept in solitary confinement while his samples were sent to Thimphu. His results were confirmed positive on January 15.

Last night, it was learned that the man had not come into contact with any imported workers brought to Wangdue for the PHPA II project.

Wangdue Dzongdag, Sonam Jamtsho, said it was not possible the worker came into contact with imported workers as security is tight.

“We still don’t know how he got infected.”

The dzongkhag started community screening right after news broke of the 24-hour power outage yesterday.

According to the minutes of the task force meeting held yesterday, community screening was to take place in Basochhu, Langlaytsawa, Rurichhu and HCC colony.

Kuensel learned that collection of samples from the man’s close contacts was underway.

punakha

In Punakha, over 550 samples were collected from the community and those who visited the PHPA area.

According to Health Ministry guidelines, a few stranded travelers were also being tested.

Last night, no one tested positive for antigens.

Tsirang

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people went to flu clinics for Covid-19 tests in Tsirang yesterday. According to one official, this is a relatively large stake.

Most of the people who came for the test were inbound travelers and people with flu-like symptoms.

The dzongkhag conducted community screening and screening in Gewog BHUs.

In Dagana, 261 people were screened for Covid-19 at three flu clinics in Dagapela, Dagana and Lhamoidzingkha, according to dzongkhag health official Dorji Wangchuk. No positive cases were detected in any of the dzongkhags.

paro

Following the national Covid-19 task force directive, Paro and Haa declared a “24-hour blackout” yesterday. The two dzongkhags collected more than 1,300 samples from incoming travelers, taxi drivers, frontline workers and people with flu-like symptoms.

Paro collected a total of 1,237 swabs including inbound travelers (665), taxi drivers (332), frontline workers (16) and people with flu-like symptoms (224). Samples were collected from nine gewog centers and the outpatient department (flu clinic located within Paro Hospital). A total of 161 frontline workers tested negative for rapid antigen.

According to Paro Dzongdag Karma Thinley, the dzongkhag has activated its emergency hotline (1060) and the flu clinic has been moved from the hospital compound to Melam Chenmo grounds.

He said the dzongkhag facilitated the release of 21 people who completed their quarantine yesterday as they reside in Paro. However, the dzongkhag detained 77 people as they had to travel out of Paro.

According to the dzongkhag implementation report, travel has been suspended to conduct effective contact tracing. However, movement for medical emergencies and essential services has been facilitated.

The report said gewog administrative officers monitored “blackout” protocols and facilitated contact tracing. Nine teams, including health workers and convenience workers, had been tracing contacts in the gewogs.

The health team also decided to test all symptomatic people.

The checkpoint management system record shows that 541 people traveled from Wangduephodrang to Paro as of January 10. Travelers were called for testing at the nearest gewog center. In addition, all taxi drivers have been advised to undergo testing at the nearest gewog center facilitated by the Road Safety and Transport Authority Transport Officer.

In addition to providing emergency services, the dzongkhag has also facilitated the travel of those who go to the hospital for an RT-PCR test to travel outside the country upon presentation of their travel authorization from the Department of immigration.

haha

Health officials in Haa collected 129 samples for antigen testing which included people arriving from Wangduephodrang and taxi drivers.

According to dzongkhag health official Samten, all samples tested negative and 20 RT-PCR samples from people who arrived from high-risk areas were sent to the Royal Center for Disease Control (RCDC) in Thimphu.

He said there were no major problems in the dzongkhag and urged people with flu-like symptoms to come to the flu clinic.

The dzongkhag has issued a notice allowing people in gewogs to attend to essential tasks on their premises and avoid crowding.

“The Bengaluru does not have metered taxis or quadricycle service. Therefore, the transport department has proposed to the government to allow metered quadricycle taxis in the city, ”said a senior transport official.

“These quadricycles can be used to provide last mile connectivity to metro users. Since last year, we have received several requests for authorization to use quadricycles as metered taxis. We have also had a few meetings with officials on this matter. We will invite public suggestions soon and hope to start quadricycle services by the end of January, ”an official said.

Sources from the Department of Transportation said about 600 quadricycle vehicles are already circulating in the city.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Tanveer Pasha, President of Ola, Taxi for Sure and Uber Owners and Drivers’ Association, said, “The quadricycle is one of the best taxis Bengaluru can adopt. All quadricycles are CNG vehicles, so they will reduce air pollution.

“We have asked the government to allow the installation of meters in taxis because app-based taxi aggregators charge huge commissions to drivers. It is best for passengers and taxi drivers to have metered taxis in the city. Allowing quadricycles to operate like metered taxis is a good start, ”Pasha added.

In particular, in 2019, Uber had created a new category called “UberXS” on its application, which allowed users to book trips in quadricycles.

Bengaluru Urban District Commissioner J Manjunath, who is also the chairman of the Road Transport Authority, confirmed that the transport department has received several requests to start metered taxi services in the city. “Once we have set an appropriate price list for metered taxis, we can allow quadricycles to offer taxi services in the city,” he added.