Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what scientific evidence supports their advice to “avoid using public transport” in certain situations as part of their COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The evidence indicates increased risks of transmission at close quarters in enclosed spaces. SAGE advice has provided evidence of an enhanced risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 for both transport workers and passengers.

Due to indoor contact between a high number of users from different households, the overall weight of evidence across the board is towards a significant risk on public transport when social distancing is not possible. Mitigations to reduce the risk on the public transport network include:

• face coverings;
• social distancing, such as reduced capacity of vehicles and out-of-service seats;
• hand sanitation provisions in stations and on vehicles;
• regular cleaning and ventilation.

However, given the many variables to each physical setting and environment there is insufficient evidence on the extent to which these measures fully mitigate the risk in any given specific transport context. We have been clear that it is the responsibility of individual transport operators to ensure they are taking necessary mitigations to ensure they comply with health and safety regulations, for the wellbeing of both their passengers and their staff.

We are also asking members of the public to follow safer travel guidance to minimise the risk of transmission to themselves and others, which includes only travelling to access work, education or open amenities and services in areas subject to enhanced local intervention and guidance to avoid travelling into and out of Local Alert Level Very High areas unless for education, work or caring responsibilities.