Minister Harakka met representatives of the passenger transport sector: Now is the time to intensify the measures to ensure health security
On 5 March 2021, the Ministry of Transport and Communications organised for the third time a forum on health security for the passenger transport sector. The aim of the forum is to share the best practices and information from the authorities among transport service providers.
Last summer, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health initiated a legislative project to amend the Communicable Diseases Act. The Ministry of Transport and Communications has actively taken part in the project. Its responsibility has been the preparation of temporary amendments included in the legislative proposal to ensure health security in passenger transport and at stations, terminals and other similar places. The amendments made the instructions on hygiene and safe distances, which were issued as recommendations, binding by law. The amendments entered into force on 22 February 2021 and the sections on passenger transport will remain in force until 30 June 2021.
As a result of the legislative amendments, the Transport and Communications Agency Traficom will be centrally responsible for the national decisions on transport service providers concerning health security.
Measures to ensure health security have already been extensively taken into use in different transport modes
"The amendments to the Communicable Diseases Act come at a good time. This is the time to intensify the measures in the new Act to ensure health security. That will strengthen trust in the security of passenger transport services now and in future," says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.
At the health security forum, the measures resulting from the amendments to the Communicable Diseases Act addressed to both the authorities and service providers were discussed. Speakers at the event told about the extensive sets of measures that have already been put in place in different transport modes to improve the health security. These include the hygiene practices, cleaning of spaces and surfaces and ensuring safe distances.
"Health security requirements impose an obligation on the transport service providers. Passengers, too, are responsible for their own and others' safety. Traficom is authorised and prepared to limit the number of passengers, if necessary. The aim is, however, that through cooperation the traffic flows smoothly and the spread of the COVID-19 virus slows down," says Minister Harakka.
Inquiries:
Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka
Requests for interviews: Susanna Niinivaara, Communications Director, tel. +358 400 816 187
