Considerations for Non-emergency Vehicle Transportation for Tribal Communities During COVID-19

Considerations for Non-emergency Vehicle Transportation for Tribal Communities During COVID-19

Tribal community members may need to regularly share personal vehicles with members outside of their own households. They may also need to use personal vehicles to transport people who are visibly sick. In addition, tribal organizations may provide medical transportation to their community members using non-emergency vehicles (cars or vans, for example). The following precautions can be considered to minimize risk of spreading COVID-19 when sharing personal vehicles.

If the driver and passengers are not sick (everyday practices for safe transportation)

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Wear a mask

  • Wear a mask. This is especially important when it’s hard to stay at least 6 feet away from people.

Note: Masks should not be placed on:

  • Babies and children younger than 2 years old
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious
  • Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without help
  • Masks are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms.
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Practice social distancing (also called physical distancing) to the extent possible

  • The passengers should sit as far away as possible from the driver and each other.
  • Travel with windows open or use the vehicle’s vents for fresh air circulation.
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Wash your hands

  • Before you leave home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Once you reach your destination, wash your hands again with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol as soon as possible upon arrival.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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Bring cleaning supplies

  • Before traveling, pack sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (in case you are unable to wash your hands at your destination), if available. You can buy sanitizing wipes or make your own by soaking paper towels in bleach solution and squeezing out excess bleach/water mixture but allowing the paper towel to remain fairly moist.

To make a bleach solution, mix:

  • 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of room-temperature water
    OR
  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of room-temperature water

If a passenger is sick with COVID and being transported for medical care

Tribal members who have tested positive for COVID-19, who are sick, or who have recently had a close contact (closer than 6 feet) to a person with COVID-19 should not transport others in their vehicle or ride in a shared vehicle. They should stay home except to seek medical care.

Whenever possible, tribal members seeking medical care for COVID-19 should transport themselves in vehicles with no passengers. If unable to transport themselves, drivers can do the following when transporting a sick passenger suspected or confirmed as having COVID-19 for medical care.

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Wear respiratory protection

  • Wear a mask.
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Limit close contact

  • The passenger should sit as far away as possible from the driver.
  • The bigger the vehicle, the better, to allow distancing. Vans are better than cars since they allow for better distancing between the passenger and driver.
  • Travel with windows open or use the vehicle’s vents for fresh air circulation.
  • Avoid picking up other passengers.
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Clean and disinfect

  • Clean and disinfect the vehicle after transporting passengers who are suspected or confirmed as having COVID-19.
  • Follow cleaning and disinfection procedures every time. Doors and windows should remain open when cleaning the vehicle. When cleaning and disinfecting, wear disposable gloves that are meant to be used with the cleaning products as well as a mask. Wear a disposable gown, if available.
  • After cleaning, remove gloves and throw them in the trash. Wash your hands immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. If you did not wear a disposable gown, wash clothes worn during cleaning and disinfecting using the hottest water setting and dry them completely. Wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
  • See Cleaning and Disinfection for Non-emergency Transport Vehicles for more information.
  • Make sure that you remove any cleaning residue (film) from the vehicle before transporting anyone else.
References
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Cleaning and Disinfection for Non-emergency Transport Vehicles
  • What Rideshare, Taxi, Limo, and other Passenger Drivers-for-Hire Need to Know about COVID-19
  • Protect Yourself When Using Transportation