SINGAPORE — Four SMRT bus drivers working at the Bukit Panjang integrated transport hub, which is linked to Hillion Mall, had contracted Covid-19 and tested positive between July 7 and 24, the transport operator said on Sunday (July 26).

They drove bus services 976, which plies to and from Choa Chu Kang Interchange; 184, a loop service that turns around at Clementi MRT Station; and 176, which plies to and from Bukit Merah Interchange.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) first announced the cluster of four on Friday after the fourth case was confirmed. It stated that the last case involving a 28-year-old Malaysian was part of an effort to find people working at “a newly emergent workplace cluster”.

In a statement on Sunday, SMRT Corporation's chief communications officer Margaret Teo said that the first three drivers had contracted the coronavirus in their households.

“We are closely monitoring their condition and offering assistance to their families,” she added.

To safeguard its existing staff members, Ms Teo said that SMRT had urged them not to talk to each other at a close distance during meal times and to continue monitoring their health closely.

Employees who were in close contact with the positive cases have also been placed on leave of absence, she said.

In the meantime, all bus premises such as depots and interchanges are cleaned and disinfected frequently, she said. “Our buses are also disinfected at least twice daily. We also advise our bus captains to strictly follow safe management measures,” she added.

The affected premises have been sanitised, while the two canteens, together with the rest rooms for crew, toilets and a passenger service office have been closed.

“All common premises have undergone deep cleaning and disinfecting by an external vendor,” Ms Teo said.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the risk of transmission from transient contact such as commuting on public transport is assessed to be low. 

It said that SMRT is disinfecting buses, common facilities and also assisting MOH in facilitating contact tracing.

LTA said that it has been reminding all public transport operators of the need to continue to enforce strict safe-management measures for public transport workers, which include spaced seating and staggered break times.

All public transport workers are also reminded to keep their masks on at all times, except when they are eating or drinking, to minimise interactions and ensure good personal hygiene, it said.

“If they are unwell, they should seek medical attention immediately and remain at home,” LTA said in an email reply to TODAY on Monday. 

The authority said that commuters should also refrain from talking on public transport, practise good personal hygiene and avoid taking public transport if they are unwell.