10 London Transport workers die after testing positive for COVID-19

Mayor Sadiq Khan said that all of the employees, eight of which were bus drivers, died in the last few days

SAD NEWS: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan confirmed that 10 public transport workers have died

TEN LONDON Transport workers have died in the capital after testing positive for coronavirus, the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan has said.

Khan said that all the employees, eight of whom were bus drivers, died in the last few days.

“They are in my thoughts and prayers, and my condolences to their families” Mayor Khan said. “It reminds us actually, one of the heroic frontline workers are transport workers.

LOBBYING GOVERNMENT: Sadiq Khan

“We’ve got 25,000 bus drivers, more than 25,000 people who work for Transport for London, doing their best to keep public transport running for those essential key workers that need public transport to get from home to work and back home again.

“The NHS, those who work in our shops in the food sector, police officers, firefighters.”

Khan added that London public transport workers have not currently been provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves, during the coronavirus outbreak because the advice from Public Health England was that there is no need for transport workers to have the equipment.

However transport workers union ASLEF union, has called for people working in the industry to be provided with PPE.

Limited facilities

Khan told Sky News: “We can do the best we can with the limited facilities given by the government.

“We are lobbying the government regularly, almost on a daily basis, for additional personal protective equipment and additional testing as well.

“At the moment what we’re doing is using hospital-standard anti-viral disinfectant, we’re regularly cleaning the key touch points – think about bus garages, the steering wheel, depots [and] the key places people touch when they get onto a bus.”

Among those believed to have died are Said Musse, Holloway driver Emeka Nyack Ihenacho, Nadir Nur and Paul Aheto, who worked as a supervisor at the Willesden bus garage.

‘Immense sadness’

A Metroline spokesman said: “It is with immense sadness that we can confirm that three of our colleagues have passed away after contracting coronavirus.

“We are devastated by this loss and we offer our support and condolences to the families at this incredibly difficult time.

“The safety of our employees has always been our priority and we continue to do everything we can to make sure our workforce is as protected and as safe as possible during this unprecedented time.”

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