A new study conducted by the Charité Research Organisation (CRO) has found that the risk of contracting COVID-19 while using public transportation in Germany is not higher than when using a personal vehicle or bicycle. The study, which was commissioned by the Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV), examined the public transportation system in the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) area and involved 681 participants between the ages of 16 and 65. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: those who used public transportation and those who used personal vehicles. They were then asked to keep a diary of their mobility behavior, adherence to hygiene rules, daily contacts, and any cold symptoms they experienced during the five-week study period.
At the end of the study, all participants were tested for antibodies to determine if they had contracted COVID-19. The results showed that 12 out of 325 participants in the public transportation group and 14 out of 314 participants in the personal vehicle group had antibodies, indicating that the risk of infection was not higher for those who used public transportation. The study’s authors concluded that adherence to hygiene rules, frequent cleaning and ventilation of vehicles, and wearing masks and maintaining social distancing were effective measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
The study’s findings have been welcomed by politicians and transportation officials, who hope that they will encourage more people to use public transportation. “This provides security for everyone who relies on public transportation. No one has to worry about getting infected when using buses and trains,” said Bernd Althusmann, the Minister of Economic Affairs in Lower Saxony. The study’s results are particularly significant given the ongoing pandemic and the need to find ways to safely resume normal activities.
