The Bhutanese government has announced several physical distancing measures to be followed in all public transport facilities, including taxis, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

The government announced restrictions on all non-essential and leisure travels within the country and instructed the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) to minimise the number of passengers traveling in buses and taxis.

As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the carrying capacity of all buses and taxis has been halved and passengers are only allowed to use the designated seats. The fares, however, will remain the same.

Besides reducing carrying capacity in public transport, the Information and Communication Ministry, RSTA and the Bhutan Taxi Association decided to implement an odd-even road-rationing scheme also.

There are more than 7,000 registered members under Bhutan Taxi Association. With this scheme, taxies with odd and even number plates will ply on alternate days across the country.

This system will be exempted on Sundays. Also, to minimise contact, taxi drivers have been directed to submit their daily passenger logbook in a suggestion box.

So far, three positive cases have been reported in the country.