OCTA suggests limiting public transport to fully vaxxed passengers as gov’t increases capacity

Passengers show their vaccination cards upon entering the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 at Edsa-North Avenue Station to avail of a free ride starting Tuesday to August 20 2021, as the NCR reverts back to ECQ due to the rise of Delta variant covid19 cases. Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — As the government allowed the gradual increase of passenger capacity in public transportation, particularly on road and railway-based, independent pandemic monitor OCTA Research is recommending restricting it for fully vaccinated individuals.

“‘Yung recommendation namin is i-restrict sana ‘yan [public transportation] to fully vaccinated passengers,” OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said in a Laging Handa briefing.

The national pandemic task force earlier approved the gradual increase in passenger capacity of road and railway – based public transportation in Metro Manila and nearby provinces starting Nov. 4.

However, David noted that the vaccination coverage in Metro Manila is already high, with 96% of the adult population having received at least one dose while 80% have completed doses.

“Malapit na tayo. It means ‘yung adults natin, malapit na 100% vaccinated. Kung puro adults ang sasakay, most likely fully vaccinated na lahat,” he said.

(We are nearing 100%. And if only adults will be allowed on public transportation, then all of those who will ride are fully vaccinated.)

However, OCTA urged the government to expedite vaccination in nearby provinces so that they can also have better vaccination coverage.

In August this year, Malacañang said the government is open to limiting public transportation to vaccinated persons but only once Metro Manila has achieved a so-called “population protection” level where 50 percent of its people are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

EDV