New ride-for-hire restrictions have been put in place in the City of Wetaskiwin amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions have been ordered by the City of Wetaskiwin’s Director of Emergency Management.
If you are providing a ride-for-service within the City of Wetaskiwin there can be no more than one passenger per vehicle. Exceptions to this restriction is if additional passengers are members of the same household, individuals in a close personal relationship, a required caregiver or if the size and capacity of the vehicle allows for two metres between each passenger and the driver such as a shuttle bus.
No passengers are permitted to sit in the front passenger seat(s), and while driving or operating as a vehicle for hire service, disinfecting supplies must be kept in the front passenger seat in plain view. These disinfecting supplies must be used to clean the vehicle after every trip.
Cleaning of the ride-for-hire vehicle includes thorough disinfection of interior and exterior door handles, window controls, door locks, passenger seating area, seatbelts and buckles, as well as payment devices after each use.
Drivers should also be using personal protective equipment when providing physical support to passengers.
Any vehicle that provides service to a passenger who is demonstrating COVID-19 symptoms which include a cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat, or if the passenger indicates that they are at risk of having COVID-19, must be immediately removed from service and thoroughly sanitized.
If traveling in a personal vehicle you should practice social distancing to the best of your ability. In a statement on April 2, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw said, “If you are not under mandatory self-isolation, you will not be fined for travelling in your vehicle with your family or carpooling with coworkers. However, if you are feeling unwell, you must stay home.”
shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca
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