Tokyo taxi drivers may reject customers without face masks

Wed, Nov 4, 2020
By editor
1 MIN READ

Coronavirus Pandemic

The Japanese government decided on Wednesday to allow taxi drivers in Tokyo to reject passengers who refuse to wear face masks amid concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japan’s Transport Ministry approved the measure, which was requested by 10 taxi operators in the capital; the move could be expanded to other prefectures as the country confirms hundreds of new coronavirus infections daily.

Taxi drivers complained that some drunken passengers were speaking loudly without wearing face masks.

The ministry said the measure could protect not only taxi drivers but also the next passengers who take the taxi.

There has been virtually no talk about requiring mask-wearing in Japan as almost everyone wears face masks in big cities.

Japan has so far had more than 104,000 known coronavirus cases and about 1,800 deaths. (Xinhua/NAN)

– Nov. 4, 2020 @ 14:09 GMT |

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