The Department of Rail Transport is taking steps to ensure the start of the school term next month does not lead to a new wave of Covid-19 infections.
Sorapong Paitoonphong, director-general of the Department of Rail Transport, said the department, Department of Disease Control and Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital have worked on measures to manage congestion on public transport when classes resume on July 1.
He said they will propose the government axe social distancing on train platforms and trains and increase allowable crowd density from 50 per cent to 70 per cent as passenger numbers increase to a million per day.
International research showed that if strict measures such as wearing masks and using sanitising gel are observed, infections are unlikely to occur.
Even though social distancing could be lifted, the department will make sure public safety is observed at all times, Mr Sorapong said.
