Last week, there have been calls to relax the one-meter minimum physical distancing rule on public transport based on the argument that the strict implementation of seven measures or “commandments” — use of masks, use of face shields, no talking and no eating, adequate ventilation, proper disinfection, no symptomatic passengers, and appropriate physical distancing — offers an acceptable level of risk. Its proponents cite the policies and experiences of neighboring countries, such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea and China, that have successfully contained the spread of the coronavirus without imposing physical distancing requirements on their public transport.

The proponents emphasize that the success of this proposal would depend on proper enforcement and continued monitoring by Philippine authorities and on the public taking full responsibility for compliance with the so-called seven commandments.

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