(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Business impact

P.A. cab companies feeling pinch from COVID-19

Mar 23, 2020 | 5:00 PM

With fewer people leaving their homes for business or pleasure, it’s no surprise local cab companies are taking a big hit.

Pardeep Kumar, owner of Checker/ Family Taxi, confirmed for paNOW daily business has dropped about 70 per cent.

“Where we getting a 100 calls, we are only getting 30 calls now,” he said, adding much of it has to do with the closing of the casino, bingo halls and cancellation of medical appointments.

“People are scared to go out,” he said.

Checker/Family Taxi remains open 24 hours and Kumar himself was handling the dispatch duties on Monday. He said some of his drivers took two weeks off.

BDO Debt Solutions

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank: Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday

2h ago

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

2h ago

MMA

"The Lion" roars in New Brunswick

3h ago

“One of the drivers lives with elderly parents so he said if I get the virus, then my parents are in risk,” he said.

In terms of precautions, Kumar said drivers have been instructed to wear gloves and to disinfect the vehicles a few times a day. At this time there are no plans to restrict the number of passengers.

Prior to COVID-19, it was not very common to see taxis parked during the daytime. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Hetalkumar Patel, owner of Grey Cab, told paNOW business has also taken a hit but did not have have exact numbers. He said he initiated safety protocols the moment he received word of Saskatchewan’s first case. Those protocols have included frequent cleaning of the cars and providing the drivers with masks.

“I told them to request the passengers sit in the back seat, not in the front,” he said.

When asked about restricting passengers, Patel said it was more common when the bars were open for drivers to take on more than one passenger, but added with those businesses now closed, concerns around the number of passengers are not an issue.

—

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell