How will the Coronavirus impact bus services in Sidmouth?

In an effort to reassure Sidmouth bus users Stagecoach, the area's bus operator, has answered key questions about how its services are being impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak and how that will affect public transport users.

Stagecoach is keen to reassure passengers that according to the Government and Public Health England bus travel is still safe.

The bus operator is taking extra measures to ensure its buses are clean and that its staff frequently wash their hands.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: "The communities we serve are important to us and during this COVID-19 crisis, while possible, we want to make sure we're able to continue to safely connect you to the people and places that mean the most.

"We're enhancing the cleaning of our vehicles to make sure that every hand grip, pole and ticket machine, and anything else that's touchable and grabbable, are thoroughly cleaned.

"We're handing out hand sanitiser to our frontline staff and are encouraging our teams to wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds while belting out a song of their choice.

"We care about our customers and our team and want to remind everyone that we're in this together."

If you would like to find out more about how avoid catching or spreading the Coronavirus click here.

Below are Stagecoach's answers to questions frequently asked by passengers.

Q. Can I continue to travel on your services?

The advice from the government and public health authorities is that people can continue to use public transport as normal and our services are continuing to run to their planned timetables. You only need to stay away from public places (self-isolate for 14 days) if you have a temperature, a new and persistent cough or you're in close contact with someone who has these symptoms.

Q. Are all bus, coach and tram services continuing to run as normal?

Yes. Our services are continuing to operate according to their regular timetables.

Q. Are there any extra measures I should take whilst travelling?

As advised by the NHS, people should follow simple measures to stop viruses like coronavirus spreading:

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Q. Are you carrying out additional cleaning on your services?

We already have well-established and rigorous cleaning regimes for our buses, coaches and trams, and we are continuing to enhance the measures we have in place in response to the developing situation with more regular cleaning of the main customer touch-points such as hand poles and grab rails.

We are also providing additional cleaning materials such as personal hand sanitiser for frontline employees, as well as extra cleaning materials for depots and other work areas, and are issuing detailed and regular reminders to our teams about hygiene good practice.

Q. Will you be providing hand sanitisers on your services?

We are carrying out additional cleaning of the main customer touch points on our vehicles and reminding customers of the important of hygiene good practice. We are not currently looking to roll out hand sanitisers on our services.

Q. What steps are you taking at bus stations and travel shops?

We are also enhancing the cleaning regimes at the bus stations and travel shops we operate, and as with our bus and coach services, we are focusing on the places our customers come into more contact with.

Q. How are you protecting your staff, such as drivers?

We have provided all of our frontline teams with personal hand sanitiser and are reminding everybody of the important of hygiene good practice. In addition, as with the main customer touchpoint areas, we are also increasing the frequency of cleaning within driver cabs and other areas our staff come into greater contact with.

Q. If I decide not to travel with a pre-booked ticket, can I get a refund?

The government advice is that people can continue to use public transport services as normal and therefore our normal ticket conditions apply.

Q. What contingency measures do you have in place if the spread of the virus continues?

We have in place a dedicated team which is closely monitoring and managing the current situation.

Our priority is to protect the safety of our customers and our own employees. In addition, we will continue to liaise closely with government and public health authorities on any further steps we should take.