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Students on dedicated school bus services next week under Covid-19 Alert Level 2 will be transported without strict social distancing rules on general public transportation routes.
The Transport Ministry said school bus races were considered “controlled environments” where it would be known who the passengers were.
The ministry’s instructions under Alert Level 2 included a one-meter separation between passengers on public transportation, which means that capacity on city buses will be cut in half.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that people using public transport needed to “plan their journey, keep their distance, that will be necessary on public transport, and of course also track their journey.”
Several services had special loading procedures, such as in Auckland, where most access would be through the back door to minimize contact with drivers.
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But the Ministry of Education thought that “it was not possible” to obtain additional buses and drivers to maintain distance on school routes. He also said, on his website, the entrance would be strictly limited to the front door. The ministry was contacted for comment.
High school principals relaxed with the focus and were given guidelines for dedicated bus services several days ago.
The focus on the buses was similar to the way the schools themselves would operate knowing who was there, said Deidre Shea, president of SPANZ, the association of high school principals.
“Most of us are informing our families, and if they don’t feel comfortable, they can make a decision about it,” said Shea, who is the principal of Onehunga High School in Auckland.
Kevin Stent / Things
A dedicated school bus service in Wellington
Shea said there would be hand sanitizer available in the embarkation and disembarkation areas, and in Onehunga’s case, parents could tell the school what service their son used.
Schools would also maintain passenger lists in case the Ministry of Health had to contract tracing.
New Zealand Federation of Directors’ President Perry Rush said the Ministry of Education’s advice on bus distancing was appropriate, based on “much less risk at level 2.”
“It seems appropriate to focus on maintaining an accurate record of those traveling by bus [so] that contact tracking can be enabled. “
Despite the support of various industry agencies, some caregivers were concerned about the decision. A grandfather whose six-year-old granddaughter was preparing to return to school by bus, and who wanted to remain anonymous, thought it strange that public transportation requirements were not reflected in the school environment.
“If it is good enough for ordinary buses and trains to adhere to social distancing, it is surely even more important for children who are [the] future.”
Rush said parents should not be concerned about sending their children on the bus, and if evidence of community transmission is found, the changes are expected to continue.
Monique Ford / Things
The President of the New Zealand Federation of Directors, Perry Rush.
Measures were also being implemented to protect bus drivers, as many were in the high-risk category. The Ministry of Education guidelines explained that some employers would leave empty seats near drivers for their safety.
Ritchies Transport Holdings director Andrew Ritchie said the company was meeting all of the ministry’s requirements as they had been locked up, and each staff member, including drivers, had the option not to return to work.
Schools were able to open to most students starting Monday, and institutions managed their transition from Level 3 limited alert operations from Thursday onward.
Passenger social distancing was also not required on public transport services on demand, but Auckland Transport would only use vans, and not cars, in its AT Local test service in Devonport beginning May 18.
AT had already returned to normal hours but, with reduced capacity due to distancing requirements, it was urging people who could travel outside of peak hours, or be prepared so that the next service that arrives may be full.
