Blue-mask blues Taxi driver tries to ditch passengers he fears have H1N1 ANGELA HILL The Prince Albert Daily Herald
Destiny Johnstone was frustrated when the taxi she called to take her, her friend and her friend's baby home from the hospital made an unexpected stop.
"He stopped the car, unlocked the door and said, 'I can't drive you, you have to get out,' " said Johnstone, 21.
This was after the driver noticed Johnstone's friend, Ashley Auigbelle, wearing a blue facemask.
Johnstone and Auigbelle were at the hospital Saturday because Auigbelle's baby was running a fever, but tests turned up nothing and they were on their way home.
Johnstone said the driver didn't want to go any further because he was concerned that Auigbelle might have H1N1 flu.
After Johnstone explained the mask as a way to protect the baby from Auigbelle's cold, the driver continued to their destination.
"I thought it was really rude ... When you are going to the hospital, obviously there is going to be sick people coming from the hospital. If he was so worried about it, why wasn't he wearing the mask or something?" Johnstone said. "If he didn't want to drive us, he could have easily driven us back to the hospital, not tried to let us out at the side of the road with the baby."
According to Russ McCloy, manager for Checker Taxi, the company doesn't have a policy about H1N1. It's up to individual drivers to decide how they want to handle who they take during the pandemic, he said.
"Most of the guys have hand sanitizer. I carry it in the vehicle that I'm driving right now," McCloy said.
Some drivers are more worried about it than others, he added.
As long as people are taking precautions such as washing their hands and keeping surfaces clean, they shouldn't be worried about H1N1, according to health officials.
"They shouldn't be afraid of it. They should use common sense," said Dr. Khami Chokani, medical health officer for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.
Chokani said people shouldn't be concerned about those wearing masks, as it is protection for both parties.
"The (person) should have been very excited about that and said, 'wow, at least someone is looking after my well-being' rather than taking it the other way and saying, 'it's a dangerous thing.' "
Many infectious diseases in the community, whether flu or tuberculosis, can be avoided if people wash their hands, use appropriate cough etiquette and sneeze into their sleeves, Chokani said.
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Rin from Sk. writes: It should be noted that taxi drivers have the right to protect themselves.
They generally work on contract with no sick leave benefits and no e.i. benefits.
Most make a meagre living.
If they are off work due to sicknes, there are SOL, income-wise. They have families to feed and bills to pay. They are people too.
I'm on the taxi-driver's side and think he as well as store clerks should be top priority for vaccines. In fact, anyone who has no choice in who they deal with in their work and have to deal with anyone from the general public that presents themselves should get the shot, no questions asked.
There, now all you wiseasses can jump all over me and come to the defense of the passenger and talk about what an idiot old Rin is.
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Cheryl from Prince Albert, SK writes: Not an idiot, merely misguided and prone to jumping to conclusions, Rin. ;)
I've driven taxi and I've had people with masks get into my cab. I didn't have a problem with that. It says to me that they may be infectious but they're looking to keep that infection away from everyone else. As, as you say, someone with a job with no perks like extra health care, I appreciated the gesture.
On the other hand, it could mean that they've got a compromised immune system and don't want to catch whatever I have. I can appreciate that, too.
Thing is, the three were picked up at the hospital. Masks, while uncommon, are not out of the realm of possibility in passengers. Dumping passengers out on the street isn't an option for responsible drivers. Not even if it's to protect yourself. That's what the radio is for - calling for help if necessary. It's easier to turf a non-paying or violent customer if there's a police car within reach.
I think the driver overreacted in this case. If he's that worried about 'catching something', he should be wearing the mask himself.
Personally? I got more worried about the guys in balaclavas in the middle of winter than I ever did about a simple surgical mask.
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Don from Calgary, Alberta writes: I think this incident highlights the lack of public education around H1N1 and how that helps turn our society into one grounded in fear, mistrust and panic. When we fear things we don't understand, we act without thinking. If the driver had known more about H1N1 and what he needed to do to protect himself, he may not have been as afraid of catching it. Then he could have thought more clearly about why this woman was wearing a surgical mask and not been afraid of catching anything from her. Or, at least he would have maybe thought twice before kicking a baby out of his taxi.
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jan from pa, sk writes: you whats really stupid is the percentage of people dying from a regular flu are higher then those of h1n1. just like sars and all that other crap out there. so im not going to walk around like a paranoid freak. its new its scary, just like any epidemic. relax people im sure there will be something new next yr what can W.H.O create its all government propaganda!
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A girl from PA, SK writes: Jan......come on...have you even heard of Epidemiology? It is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. It is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine for identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice. In the study of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the work of epidemiologists ranges from outbreak investigation to study design, data collection and analysis. Your comment completely discredits and insults the work of these hard-working individuals right her in our very own province, not to mention public health officials, physicians, nurses and all of us who have a brain and have used it to get vaccinated. You might want to do some research on the World Health Organization before you criticize or link it to government. It's comments like yours that perpetuate fear and propaganda.
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