Corona current
Why it should be quiet on buses and trains
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In some places, the Corona ban on speaking on buses and trains already applies. The President of the Association of German Transport Companies is now also speaking out in favor of silence – why?
The corona pandemic has changed our habits a lot. We diligently keep our distance, no longer shake hands, and naturally pull out face masks and disinfectants from our pockets. Now a new rule could be added. The silence.
Requirement of silence instead of a ban on speaking
A ban on speaking in buses and trains is currently being discussed. Or rather a requirement of silence, as Ingo Wortmann, President of the Association of German Transport Companies, would rather be, because "we cannot and do not want to forbid our passengers to speak under any circumstances", he recently assured "Der Spiegel". In the interview, Wortmann pleads for more quiet on public transport – not because of the noise, but because of the corona risk.
"When people speak, they emit a lot of aerosols. With regard to the transmission of the coronavirus, it is just as dangerous as coughing," explains Wortmann in an interview with Spiegel. The aerosols released when talking would also stay in the air longer because they are finer.
Everyone can reduce the corona risk
The risk of infection on buses and trains could actually be reduced by a simple non-disclosure agreement. The less the passengers talk, the less aerosols they can spread. Everyone should welcome this additional security.
Strict bans are currently not planned. This could ultimately lead to resistance and defiance again – rather, the head of the association clearly appealed to the sense of responsibility of each individual in the interview.
Nobody currently likes to travel by bus or train, after all, we all try to avoid unnecessary contacts. However, sometimes it is simply not possible to bypass public transport. If you keep calm for a few minutes a day for the journey – literally, neither talking nor telephoning – you can contribute to everyone's safety. And an old proverb preached us: Talking is silver. Silence is golden.
Sources used: Der Spiegel, RTL