Don’t talk or make phone calls on public transport — it’s a COVID risk
Airborne risk
The potential risks posed by talking on public transport have already led some transit agencies to issue recommendations to passengers.
Barcelona’sTransports Metropolitans de Barcelona(TMB) – the company in charge of the city’s metro and buses – has created a campaign urging commuters to remain silent on all networks to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Posters and messages on the public address system of the city’s transport services remind passengers to avoid talking, with similar measures being introduced in La Rioja and the Balearic Islands following recommendations from health experts.
María Cruz Minguillón, a researcher at theSpanish National Research Council(CSIC), told local media that “people shouting or talking on the phone can emit up to fifty times more particles.”
“Many people were afraid [to travel] because it’s difficult to keep a secure distance on public transport, but with measures such as banning eating or drinking, and remaining silent, we reduce the risks,” she added.
The campaign is just a recommendation, however, and non-compliance does not currently lead to any sanctions.
A recentstudypublished inThe Royal Societyjournal found that tiny droplets released while speaking could carry the virus over long distances and potentially linger longer in the air when compared to larger droplets emitted while coughing.
Researchers concluded it was unsafe to stand without a mask two meters away from an infected person who is talking or coughing, with both situations posing an infection risk.
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Story byCities Today
Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.
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