Bus Interchange COVID-19 Cluster Includes 4 Bus Drivers Who Drove 976, 184 & 176

2020-07-27 , 9:13 am

Previously, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that there was a new cluster in the community: Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub.

Unlike days when people were issued quarantine orders when their colleagues were tested positive, the authorities are now testing everyone in a workplace that has the potential to turn into a cluster, and there’s a fancy name for this new SOP: Swab Operation.

For example, in Keppel Shipyard and Northpoint City, over 1,300 workers were tested, and 2 were detected through this massive sweep. This excludes close contacts of the positive cases.

And that was what happened at BPITH where a Malaysian who went to work at Ulu Pandan Bus Depot and Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub tested positive and is linked to three other cases.

And yesterday (26 July 2020), there is an update to the developing situation.

Four Covid-19 Cases Linked To BPITH Are Bus Drivers

SMRT announced on 26 July that four Covid-19 cases are bus drivers in their service.

Three of them had contracted Covid-19 from their homes, the transport operator said.

The last one is the Malaysian who was tested positive previously.

All employees who had been in close contact with the four cases have been placed on leave of absence (LOA) as well.

The staff lounge and canteen at BPITH has been closed off for thorough cleaning and disinfection.

SMRT is currently assisting MOH with contact tracing.

All four drivers tested positive between 7 July and 24 July 2020 and they drove bus services 976, 184 and 176.

Don’t Worry If You’ve Recently Taken The Bus Services

I know, if you remember taking any of the bus services during this period, you’re probably going:

No, you’re not.

Disregarding the fact that Covid-19 is more infectious than deadly (unless you belong to one of these groups), you’re more likely to be ill than dead.

Plus, if you’re familiar with MOH’s list of places where Covid-19 cases have been to, you’ll know that they’ve excluded the cases’ residences, workplaces and public transport use.

Reason being, there is little risk of transmission taking place with “transient contact” (short-duration contact) unless you and the driver didn’t wear masks and start speaking to each other with lips a few inches apart.

Given how most of us don’t even greet the driver when we walk in, that’s an unlikely situation.

But if you’re still worried, let’s look at history and data instead, because your mind can lie to you with fear but data can’t.

14 Public Transport Staff Members Have Been Infected with COVID-19 But None Has Infected Commuters

On 18 June, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that 14 public bus or train staff members were infected with COVID-19.

However, they added, there was no evidence suggesting that Covid-19 transmission took place on a commute on public transport.

Their investigations into the 14 Covid-19 community cases (who are public transport staff) and the passengers they may have been in contact with, did not reveal any links.

Also, public transport operators have also intensified their cleaning regime.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed that every two hours, MRT stations and bus interchanges are cleaned at least once.

High human contact points like lift buttons, handles and metal poles are also sanitised frequently.

Still, Wear A Mask

But still, LTA reminds Singaporeans of the various guidelines when taking public transport:

Always wear a mask
Don’t talk
Practice good personal hygiene (read: don’t dig your nose and smear it on the standing poles)
Don’t take public transport if you’re not feeling well

On their part, SMRT must also ensure strict safe management measures at the workplace, including spaced seating and staggered break times.

5 More Places Added To MOH’s List Of Places

Speaking of MOH’s list of places, 5 more entries have been made to the list on 26 Jul 2020.

MOH said that those identified as close contacts have already been notified.

If you’re in the same area within the same timeframe as the Covid-19 patients, you should monitor your own health for the next 14 days.

Should you find yourself developing symptoms for acute respiratory infections, you should see a doctor immediately.

As of July 2020, all individuals, 13 years old and above, will be required to undergo the swab test when they visit a doctor for ARI for the first time, although healthcare professionals have come out to say that the test is “uncomfortable, but relatively painless“.

As for the places that were identified, MOH says that people do not need to avoid them.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will engage the operators to do a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the affected premises before it is open to the public again.

For those who are visually-inclined, CNA has this microsite that shows an interactive visual map of the list and it’s quite a scary sight:

In the meantime, you can download the TraceTogether app to help fight COVID-19. If you’re still worried about privacy, then watch this video (and also subscribe to our YouTube channel, please?):