Bus drivers on Go Cornwall services are to be issued with plastic visors as part of protection measures during the coronavirus outbreak, writes local democracy reporter Ed Oldfield.
Plastic screens will also be fitted to cabs to reduce the risk of the spread of infection between drivers and passengers..
Passenger numbers have fallen by 90 per cent due to travel restrictions but the operator is still operating around four in 10 services on the network.
Around 300 of the 620 drivers are still working, with the rest on furlough under the Government business support scheme to guarantee 80 per cent of wages.
Richard Stevens, managing director of Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall, said: ’Public transport has been decimated by Covid, but it is an essential lifeline for people.
’The overwhelming temptation is just to park everything up, but we can’t do that, we have got to keep communities connected.’
A series of measures have been brought in already on local services in line with national guidance in response to the virus.
The include seats near drivers left empty, social distancing, passengers encouraged to use contactless payment, and increased cleaning of vehicles.
Drivers are having their temperature taken before they start work to check they do not have a fever, one of the main coronavirus symptoms.
The Government has announced £167million funding for bus companies for three months to keep key routes running during the pandemic.