"Figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show male taxi cab drivers and chauffeurs had higher rates of deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales. Higher than doctors, nurses and care workers. Scientists believe private-hire drivers are particularly at risk - and the longer the journey, the bigger the risk. "Unlike black cabs, there is no physical barrier separating the driver and the passengers," says Dr Joe Grove, a virologist at University College London. "People are close together and if the windows aren't open, the air can be quite stagnant. "An infected passenger releases microscopic droplets containing the virus. Even after they've left the car, the virus will remain." Sociologist Dr Mark Williams from Queen Mary University of London says taxi and private-hire drivers are among the worst hit because they face many risk factors. "They can't do their job from home, and their job makes it hard to socially distance, but they're also self-employed so need to work.""