“I haven’t had a cold in nearly two years” – York taxi driver explains why masks and plastic screens will be here to stay for now

Wendy Loveday, the chair of York Private Hire Association has been telling YorkMix that she and most drivers in the city will be sticking with current face mask policy after the July 19th changes to covid laws on Monday.

Then it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear one (in England) but most supermarkets, restaurants and transport services will be asking customers to carry on doing just that.

LNER is one of those, read more at YorkMix here

Speaking to YorkMix Radio, Wendy Loveday, who works for Fleetways in York, and has a lot of vulnerable contract customers who need taking to medical appointments, said:

“There are mixed opinions on this of course but in the main, it appears that most drivers are going to keep wearing them.

“For one things some of our regular contract clients are insisting that we continue and that we keep our screens (between the front and back seats) in place too. So we have to do what they want.

“I’m keen to keep both. I haven’t had a cold in nearly two years now. So why would I change that?

“You know, many drivers are saying, why don’t we just keep everything as it is until next spring because we’ve got to get through the winter yet. Covid hasn’t gone, it’s still there.

“We’re in extremely close proximity to customers and I just think it would be foolish not to do as much as we possibly can.”

So will Wendy Loveday be asking her customers to wear a mask?

“At least I have the screen. I will ask but I can’t insist that they do. But I can refuse to take a customer that might be displaying symptoms. I have grandchildren who haven’t been vaccinated yet so I will be cautious”