Taxi drivers get acquainted to COVID-19 health protocols ahead of airport re-opening |27 July 2020

The turnout by taxi drivers for Saturday’s meeting was very positive and there are plans to organise other sessions (Photo: Joena Meme)

In preparation for Seychelles to start welcoming back foreign visitors with the re-opening of our airspace to commercial flights on August 1, taxis drivers who will be working at the airport have followed a mandatory session to be better acquainted to COVID-19 health protocols.

The department of health in partnership with the Seychelles Taxi Operators Association and the land transport department conducted the mandatory training for all taxi drivers which took place at the Golden Place restaurant on Saturday morning.

Transport principal secretary Patrick Andre was present.

The Public Health Authority has issued measures to ensure detection of possible infection from COVID-19, maximum protection for everyone who will handle the visitors including taxi drivers, thus the importance of the awareness session. It aims to make all taxi drivers compliant with the COVID-19 protocols set by the Public Health Authority.

Seychelles Taxi Operators Association chairman Frank Kilindo said he believes that all drivers should know the protocols set by the public health even though they will not be receiving that many tourists in the first few months.

He continued by noting that “the response among taxi drivers has been very positive and the turnout very good.”

“Due to the large number of taxi drivers who want to be part of the training we will be conducting multiple sessions in the coming days including on Praslin and La Digue,” said Mr Kilindo.

The chairman added that “the assistance we are receiving from the government is not enough for us to sustain our families, so this training is very important as we will be able to get some additional customers in August.”

Even though the training is for the re-opening of the airport, the taxi drivers will have to apply what they have learned to locals travelling with them as well.

Andrew Richard, senior public health officer and one of those who run the training, noted that the session focused on the ability to detect a potential COVID-19 case and the procedures they must take to report it, ways to keep social distancing in their vehicle and how to disinfect their car.

“There will be follow-ups to this training and if we see that certain drivers are not in compliance with the guidelines then action will be taken against them,” said Mr Richard.

Christophe Zialor