Designated light and medium-sized bus fleet to provide transport to persons tested positive for COVID-19 to community isolation facilities

     To alleviate the demand pressure for the ambulance service of Fire Services Department (FSD) and to facilitate early admission of persons tested positive for COVID-19 but with no or mild symptoms to the community isolation facilities (CIF), the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) has liaised with trades of non-franchised bus as well as public light bus to set up a designated bus fleet to provide assistance. About 200 light and medium-sized buses will participate and the fleet size will be adjusted according to the actual demand. The FSD will flexibly deploy departmental resources and coordinate with the designated fleet to transport relevant persons to the CIF.
      
     Starting from February 21, when persons tested positive for COVID-19 can be transferred to the CIF as advised by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, the FSD will divert cases to the designated bus fleet for transporting the relevant persons from their residences to the designated CIF. Upon the FSD's confirmation on the details of transfer with the persons, the drivers of the designated bus fleet will liaise with the persons to arrange transport services.    
      
     A Government spokesman said, "We will provide to the operators and drivers of the designated fleet with anti-epidemic guidelines. Drivers of the designated fleet must wear protective equipment, including protective face shields (while not driving), masks and protective gowns, and fully disinfect the compartments every day and perform a daily rapid antigen test before providing services. Only those who have tested negative for the virus can provide these services. The designated fleet will only transport relevant persons to the designated CIF, and will not provide other services. Specific labels will be affixed on the bus bodies for public identification (see Annex)."
      
     The Government thanks the trades for organising the designated fleet service and providing safe and reliable transport services in this difficult time, contributing immensely to the anti-epidemic efforts.