COVID-19 Pandemic Countermeasures and Policy, and the Role of the Transport Sector

Abstract

This paper first introduces the initial policy recommendations established by the World Conference of Transport Research Society’s WCTRS COVID-19 Task Force in light of analysis linking the spread of COVID-19 infection to travel. Next, the paper breaks down the mechanisms of infection into three stages – movement, places of activity, and self-defense – based on the “Mosquito hypothesis”, and discusses the need for measures and policies tailored to each stage. The paper also introduces the “PASS approach” to formulating pandemic measures and policies, and systematically organizes and proposes recommended actions and policies to be implemented by each stakeholder. Lastly, the paper stresses the need for urgent cross-sectional pandemic measures and policies, including those in the transport sector, based on scientific evidence.