Taxi Driver Online

Glasgow cabbies shocked as several drivers 'very ill' with coronavirus

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/183 ... ronavirus/

Glasgow's Taxi Owners' Association has confirmed more than one of Glasgow's cabbies has died due to COVID-19.

The association urged fellow cabbies to "stay safe" after hearing several Glasgow taxi drivers were also ill with the virus.

The Glasgow TOA Facebook page posted a statement: "We are in utter shock after hearing that there are several Glasgow cabbies very ill at the moment with the COVID-19 virus.

"Sadly, more than one has now passed away."

"Glasgow cabbies are a close-knit community and this is absolutely heartbreaking and frightening."

The Glasgow cabbies expressed condolences to the drivers' families.

The statement continued: "We would like to send strength and best wishes to those trying to get well.

"To the drivers that have lost their lives, we are so very sorry and would like to pass on our thoughts and prayers to their loved ones.

"Please try to stay safe fellow cabbies."

The news comes a week after generous Glasgow taxi drivers organised a fundraiser to be able to provide free rides for NHS workers.

Nearly £6000 has been raised in the Glasgow NHS Taxi Fund, as Glasgow cabbies joined together to support frontline NHS staff.

Fellow taxi drivers took the comments to express their condolences.

One said: "Thoughts with those drivers trying to make a living."

A driver from Dundee wrote: "Stay safe guys and my heart is broken for the drivers and their families who have passed."

Another individual expressed sympathies: "Massive condolences from an Edinburgh black cabs drivers family. Keep safe!"

Glasgow Taxis could not confirm the deaths or illness of individual cabbies.

A spokesman for Glasgow Taxis Ltd, whose fleet amounts to around two-thirds of all black Hackneys in Glasgow, said: “Everyone at Glasgow Taxis will share the sadness and devastation felt by families of anyone working in the trade who pass as a result of coronavirus - or of any illness, for that matter.

“At present, we have not been informed directly by any members or drivers either ill from the virus or experiencing symptoms, although we fully expect some will have symptoms and be self-isolating.

"We are also aware of some members and drivers who have taken the decision to “park up” and stay at home which we fully respect."

Glasgow's biggest taxi firm has reassured drivers that their safety is of utmost concern to the

The spokesman added: “We are in almost daily dialogue with the full membership as we try to support them as much as we can during this unprecedented situation.

“To those with no health concerns at present and keen to continue to help keep key workers moving in the city, they are able to choose to do so thanks to the partition nature of our vehicles and with pre-payment or contactless payment available. All vehicles are being cleaned before and after every journey.

“The health and safety of all our members is paramount and we continue to ask all staff, members and drivers to follow government and NHS advice at all times.”

Not sure what to make of this. Statistically, compared to Scotland's overall death rate, around 0.14 HCDs should be dead, therefore if even two are dead then that means Glasgow HCDs 14 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than the population in general (think there's around 2,500 HCDs in Glasgow).

But whether it could be because of the nature of the job, or because maybe some very unfit drivers around, or maybe just a statistical blip, isn't clear.

Or maybe they were part of a group of people who knew each other socially, so not really about the job as such.

And you'd think PHDs more susceptible, because of the lack of screen, and also must be twice as many PHDs in Glasgow than HCDs.

And no word from any other parts of the country that drivers particularly susceptible. Problem though is that numbers so tiny that it's difficult to draw conclusions from a small population like 2,500 drivers.

It's like two people died in a village of 2,500 people, which would be way above the national average. But could be due to a link of some kind, or just a random statistical blip. Difficult to tell without further information

Very very very sad.

But as SW alludes to that is statistically not good.

I suppose our trade is quite often overweight and lovers of fags, so that in itself doesn't help against this bug, but even so it's not looking good for many more of us in this trade.

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IDFIMH

Itis not just the unfit or persons with under lying health problems it is taking,we have lost a comrade who was healthy in less than 6 days due to this virus.

You have to wonder if it's getting a bit close to home.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52169002

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IDFIMH

As much as I like statistics....
There are some quoted in this thread which are completely unrealistic in their ambition and accuracy.
I'll leave that hanging for Operators, Owners, Drivers to mull over.
Stay safe all.