Five bus workers in London passed away from coronavirus, and the mayor of the capital was ‘absolutely devastated’ after the COVID-19 deaths.
Sadiq Khan took to Twitter and said that ‘lives depend’ on people who follow the rules to stay indoors unless going out is essential.
“I have been clear that our incredible public transport staff – on the buses, tubes, trams and trains – are critical workers, making a heroic effort to allow our NHS staff to save more lives,” Mr. Khan said.
“But we need to play our part too and that means fewer Londoners using the public transport network.”
He added: “Please follow the rules. Stay at home and do not use public transport unless it is absolutely unavoidable.”
It was on March 23 when Boris Johnson placed the UK under lockdown. This means people can only leave the house if they are shopping for essentials, going out for exercise, helping vulnerable individuals, or if they are key workers.
But Khan has come under fire for axing bus services and trains, preventing passengers from following social-distancing rules as they cram in together.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a press briefing: “When it comes to the Tube, the first and the best answer is that Transport for London should have the Tube running in full so that people travelling are spaced out and can be further apart, obeying the two-metre rule wherever possible.
“And there is no good reason in the information that I’ve seen that the current levels of Tube provision should be as low as they are. We should have more Tube trains running.”
One bus driver said that workers for Metroline company are not being provided with hand sanitizer or face masks. He believes that his best friend, who passed away from a fatal disease, must have been infected.
A spokesperson for Metroline said: “It is with immense sadness that we can confirm that three of our colleagues have passed away after contracting coronavirus. We are devastated by this loss and we offer our support and condolences to the families at this incredibly difficult time.
“The safety of our employees has always been our priority and we continue to do everything we can to make sure our workforce is as protected and as safe as possible during this unprecedented time.”
It added: “We continue to follow the guidance by the Department for Transport and Public Health England. The Department for Transport and Public Health England do not recommend the use of face masks for transport staff.
“We will support the families of our colleagues and we remain resolute in our commitment to protecting our workforce that is working hard to keep services running for those who need it during these difficult times.”
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