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BUS ÉIREANN HAS said it is experiencing a high number of Covid-19-related illness among its Waterford staff, and has warned some routes face cancellation as a result.
It is understood that 18 drivers are currently out of work, either by being a confirmed case or through self-isolation measures.
The weekend routes may be most impacted, according to Bus Éireann.
A statement from the company cited Waterford’s position as having the sixth highest 14-day incidence rate of the virus in the country, with 1,672 Covid cases confirmed in Waterford in the last fortnight.
It went on: “Bus Éireann is also experiencing a higher than usual level of Covid-related absences in Waterford, whether confirmed cases or through necessary self-isolation.”
”We are working hard to manage services to try to minimise impact on customers, but it is possible that some services may be affected or cancelled as a result of staff absences.”
Last February, Bus Éireann cancelled a number of routes in Waterford due to the spread of cases among its staff.
Over 20 staff were understood to have been self-isolating at the time.
The company said it is taking every possible precaution and has introduced antigen testing for employees on site, on a voluntary basis.
A spokesperson confirmed that the advisory issued on Thursday afternoon for Waterford is the only one released during the current wave, with no other cities and counties seeing a high number of Covid-related absences.
It advised customers to check before travel over the coming weekend at buseireann.ie and expresswa
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Busman holidays for all then?
Get in your cars everybody.
@Fergal McDonagh: Holidays? Would you prefer they infected their passengers
@DJ François: whoosh…..
@DJ François: Yawn
@DJ François: give over will ya…Drama queen
The most vaccinated area in Ireland and the world also has the highest rate of Covid in Ireland. Reported in the Irish Times and Sky news recently.
@Brianán McBride: Yhea it’s so strange , can’t get my head around that.
As they do say break through infection are possible but I don’t believe it , as I know loads with virus now all vaccinated some whole households down with it.
I think it’s more like everyone can get it vaxed or not.
@Brianán McBride: Most vaccinated area populated with 1000s of students from neighbouring counties who wouldn’t be part of the Waterford vaccination numbers.
I don’t think the numbers are correct. At a 99.5% vaccination rate that means there’s only 267 people in the city that aren’t vaccinated. I’ve heard of 12-15 and I wouldn’t exactly know half the city, and I don’t knock around in anti-vax groups (the 12-15 people I’ve heard of aren’t connected to each other). It just seems incredibly high. I’ve heard someone suggest it might be due to the vaccination centres taking people in from surrounding counties but surely they take address details or something for their data.
No bother to Bus Eireann to cancel routes – they have a history.
Of course, we all knew this was going to happen, the dogs on the street could see this coming, been saying it for ages. The government should have done more to ensure this didn’t happen. It’s not good enough.
(Say it in your best David Cullinane voice)
have your say