The recent directive to relax Covid-19 measures for public transport allowing them to carry passengers at full capacity is very worrying.
The decision is a contradiction to the briefings by the Ministry of Health warning the public to keep off crowded areas and avoid meetings. Public transporters have been flouting safety belt rules and the directive will give them a leeway to overload passengers and goods.
The death rate has gone up owing to the Delta variant that is spreading very fast with catastrophic effects. Implications of such a directive is that Covid-19 is no longer a threat and that people can go about their duties without precaution.
Furthermore, there are other sectors of our economy badly hit by the pandemic containment measures, including hotels and restaurants. To imply that only the public transport was hardly hit is too pedestrian.
To ensure that all sectors are catered for, the government can do the following. Lift the night curfew for the whole country so that people can go about their business without hindrance. This will curtail harassment by law enforcers, which has resulted in deaths in recent cases.
Second, ease restrictions for hotels and restaurants so that they can host patrons at any time. Hospitality industry cannot work under restrictions because service is rendered at the desire of the customer.
Thirdly, provide fumigation services in public areas like markets, bus stations and schools to keep infections down. Such a gesture will create visibility for the government to the public as caring and in control.
As matatus go back to the old normal, one is left wondering whether passengers will keep to the new normal. The government seems to be worried no more and the situation becomes a theatre of the absurd.
However, for the government to only allow PSVs to continue with business as normal while leaving other equally affected sectors only makes the Covid-19 pandemic look like a hoax.
The alleged Covid millionaires should be prosecuted and funds recovered used to fumigate and provide masks to schools.
Kamichore Mutindira, Box 4629-00200, Nairobi
