1. Following the Swine influenza outbreaks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the pandemic alert from Phase 4 to Phase 5 on 29 April 2009. This indicates that there is evidence of significant human-tohuman transmission of the virus, which has caused sustained community-level outbreaks in 2 or more countries.
2. We understand from the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore that the current swine flu virus has genetic material from swine, avian and human flu strains. Clinical illness ranges from mild flu-like symptoms to severe viral pneumonia. Unlike SARS where almost all cases will develop symptoms, one-third of H1N1 infected persons are asymptomatic and initial assessment is that the H1N1 virus will be harder to contain than SARS.
3. As a precautionary measure, thermal screening has been implemented at all Changi Airport Terminals, Seletar Airport and the sea checkpoints. Hospitals have also started thermal screening with their staff donning Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), i.e. masks/gloves. However, thermal screening is not foolproof, but unlike SARS, those ill with the swine flu virus can be treated.
4. In view of the current alert level, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Taxi Operators’ Associations (TOA) and taxi companies would like to advise all taxi drivers to observe the following:
a. Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently, using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, etc. You are advised to have hand sanitizer ready in your taxi so that you could use it to disinfect your hands regularly;
b. Take your temperature at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. This is to ensure that you are not feverish; c. Seek medical treatment immediately if you feel unwell, and do not drive the taxi;
d. Listen to the doctor’s advice and stay at home, so that you do not spread the virus to others;
e. Clean your taxi more frequently and to use disinfectants when cleaning C the cleaning should be done twice a day or more if possible, such as when changing shift;
f. Increase ventilation of your taxi by winding down the windows in-between trips and not using the recirculation mode of the vehicle air-conditioning system. During your break time, you are advised to off the engine, wind up all windows and leave your taxi under the hot sun for at least 15 minutes to disinfect the taxi; and
g. Logon to MDT at all times and issue receipts to your passengers and advise them to retain the receipt for contact tracing.
5. We urge all taxi drivers to be socially responsible by adopting the above practices with immediate effect.
