(13 Feb 2021, 12:42 pm)Drifter60 wrote Well I’d suggest speaking to your employer? The point being made is that staff at Asda Byker are coming into more close contact than the driver of the Coaster 1A route. Not an exact science, but Go North East drivers don’t even need to wear masks because of the screen in place which offers them adequate protection. Although having said this, I do think putting various key workers above each other in risk levels is a little toxic, all workers should be appreciated right now - including those working from home too - wether you’re a police officer, a bus driver, or a McDonald’s worker having to physically attend work or a call centre worker trying to ‘Work from Home’ with the dog barking in the background or someone trying to do accounting while home schooling. 

Speaking of the safety measures on buses, does make me wonder how these recent outbreaks have spread within bus operators. GNE seem to handling it well but Arriva are struggling it seems? I’ve never been on buses since before the pandemic, but is there a sufficient cleaning between driver change overs inside the cab and is social distancing achievable during meal/rest breaks?

The number of drivers probably makes a big help when it comes to GNE, there's some school contracts plus the National Express work which has all been cancelled atm so even if half the staff did catch the virus then it wouldn't cause as much as an impact compared to Arriva who's only work is their service work so if you lose half the staff then your going to be short.

Can't really comment on Stagecoach but the movement of services around at Sunderland/South Shields could very well be linked to issues at South Shields.