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Commuters Cram Together On Tubes And Trains Despite Coronavirus Warnings

Commuters Cram Together On Tubes And Trains Despite Coronavirus Warnings

The government has urged people not to make unnecessary travel and avoid contact with other people

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Nhotos have been shared online showing morning commuters crammed onto tubes and trains across the country, despite experts urging people to keep their distance from one another.

With trains running reduced services due to the coronavirus outbreak, passengers have been seen packing tightly together as they make their way into work.

The worrying photographs have led to calls from people demanding the government does more to protect workers from potential exposure to the disease.

NHS worker Marianna posted a photo of a packed carriage, writing: "My morning commute to work, I work for NHS and have asthma and epilepsy. How am supposed to stay 2m apart if the trains are like this?"

One NHS worker said it was impossible to keep two metres away from other commuters.
One NHS worker said it was impossible to keep two metres away from other commuters.

Echoing their concerns, another person asked: "So... why has the UK closed its pubs and restaurants, but not hairdressers or beauticians? Why do we have no rules about the density of crowds in shops, or on public transport? Why are so many random non essential bits of the economy operating? It's incredibly half ar**d."

In a bid to encourage more people to work from home and avoid contact with others, the government announced today (23 March) it will refund all advanced train tickets, with season ticket holders also being reimbursed on time not used.

It's part of a raft of 'emergency measures' to make sure those social distancing and working from home aren't out of pocket for 'doing the right thing'.

The announcement stated: "This will allow us to ensure that trains necessary for key workers and essential travel continue to operate. No other passengers should travel."

Train companies and the government have been criticised for the packed carriages.
Train companies and the government have been criticised for the packed carriages.

Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson rammed home the importance of keeping at least two metres apart from one another after people were seen flouting medical advice and congregating in parks and beaches.

He said: "Don't think fresh air automatically provides some immunity.

"Even if you think you're personally invulnerable there are plenty of people you could infect."

Johnson continued: "We will keep the implementation of these measures under review - and yes, of course we will bring forward further measures if we think this is necessary."

While he said he didn't 'want' to enforce 'tougher measures', Johnson later reiterated: "You've got to follow the social distancing rule. Otherwise [...] there is going to be no doubt that we have to bring forward further measures."

The Prime Minister has urged people to stay home and away from public transport.
The Prime Minister has urged people to stay home and away from public transport.

However, despite the government's stance, some have hit out at the Prime Minister for not doing more to force companies to close their doors and reduce the amount of people needlessly using public transport.

Questioning train companies for reducing services and the government's apparent lack of leadership, one person wrote: "Reducing public transport before closing non-essential businesses is one of the more bizarre decisions made by the government this last few days."

Another added: "This is insane. Another example is the @Piccadillyline in London, which has been reduced from 24 trains an hour down to 4, a sixfold reduction in capacity. There's no way that this allows essential workers to commute and keep a safe distance from each other."

For more information on the best practice to follow for social distancing, visit the government website, here.

It's okay to not panic. LADbible and UNILAD's aim with our campaign, Cutting Through, is to provide our community with facts and stories from the people who are either qualified to comment or have experienced first-hand the situation we're facing. For more information from the World Health Organisation on Coronavirus, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Topics: UK News, Interesting, Coronavirus, UK News, Interesting, Coronavirus