Grab drivers have been rising to the occasion ever since the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Previously, they volunteered to ferry medical workers to and from their workplaces.
Remember, that was the period of time where healthcare workers were discriminated against by the public in Singapore.
And now, they’re taking it one step further and volunteering to drive Covid-19 suspect cases.
Some Grab Drivers Would Be Deployed to Drive COVID-19 Suspect Cases to NCID
On 23 Apr 2020, it was reported that more than 250 Grab drivers and about 70 drivers from Strides Transportation, a subsidiary of SMRT, will be deployed to ferry Covid-19 suspect cases to NCID.
For Grab, the drivers volunteered for the scheme and are now being “progressively” scheduled into the roster in 8-hour shifts.
Don’t Worry, They Won’t Be Taking Regular Trips Anymore
Now, if you’re thinking, does this mean I have to shun Grab from now on, don’t.
For one, you’re not supposed to leave your house.
And if you’re part of the essential workforce, you don’t have to worry because according to the Ministry of Health (MOH), these drivers will be exclusively helping out with MOH and won’t be driving regular trips anymore.
“These vehicles will not be available for public booking when they are part of the MOH fleet, and do not serve normal trips on days when they are on standby to ferry patients.”
Both Grab and Strides will be paying their drivers.
It’s As Safe As It Could Be
This move, MOH says, is to complement existing ambulatory services in Singapore.
Cases that are deemed “clinically unwell” by the doctor will still be ferried by ambulances and the drivers will only ferry patients who are “stable and clinically well” from “primary care clinics to public acute hospitals or NCID”.
These drivers are also trained by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on medical and safety protocol.
Every driver is issued with their own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from a designated collection point and drivers have to dispose of them at designated zones.
“Proper safeguards have been put in place to ensure that the vehicles are thoroughly disinfected after each trip.”
A Grab driver spoken to said he and his family were initially worried, but felt less so after going through the required training.
Don’t Worry, It’s Not A Sign Of Healthcare Overload
Previously, the government came out to assure Singaporeans that healthcare capacity is well below the limit.
With this move, some might ask, are we having too many cases for the ambulance to handle?
The answer is no, according to handsome Doctor Leong Hoe Nam, who’s now like Singapore’s resident doctor when it comes to Covid-19.
The government’s just being forward-thinking, he says.
Basically, it’s our government showing the typical kiasu trait inherent in all Singaporeans.
Awww.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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