Representatives of transport regulatory institutions in this eastern Cuban province specified the measures taken to continue ensuring essential services in the face of the paralysis of passengers transportation decreed, in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Luis Enrique Arias Peña, head of the subgroup in charge of this activity within the Provincial Defense Council, confirmed that since this Friday, any mass passenger transfers on the usual routes by state or private vehicles (including horse-drawn carriages and pedicabs) were completely halted. Now, he said, only the movement of health workers and those linked to food production, internal order and those linked to exports will continue.

For this, he explained, the agencies or entities must coordinate the trips they need directly with the Transport and School Transport companies. "The administrative transport of companies must be based on the transfer of workers without neglecting the efficiency and rational use of fuel," he stressed.

Arias Peña explained that there will be no cash collection on the buses since the service is already previously contracted; and that the Emergency Medical Service will be strengthened to attend to cases that need it. Meanwhile, inter-municipal travel will only be in close coordination with the Defense Councils and through rigorous evaluation.

For his part, Reynaldo Reyes Silva, director of the State Traffic Unit (UET) in the province, reported that the suspension of activity for private porters occurs ex officio, so that they do not even have to go outside to do any paperwork. That step impacts 3,050 licenses for pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages and carts, and another 482 for automotive means.

"That suspension ex officio, he explained, is valid for passenger managers, the motorsport instructor, the bikes and motorcycles caretaker; transport of cargo and passengers with animal and human traction; transport of cargo or passengers by railway or maritime automotive means, including the boats of El Socucho; and the workers associated with these activities."

To complete the procedure, he indicated that the UET will draw up a list that will be delivered in turn to the National Tax Administration Office (ONAT) so that it can assure what is related to the temporary cessation of payment of taxes. In the case of those who receive authorization to work at the request of the defense councils, he clarified, they will be enabled with the operating license and the associated fuel card.