Fears grow for Londoners using buses as they are ‘not cleaned’

London bus drivers have claimed that some buses are not being cleaned properly, and they do not have the proper protective equipment.

Transport for London (TfL) staff members told Sky News they are “all scared” as they lack the proper protective equipment to do their job safely.

Speaking anonymously, it has been alleged that some buses are not being cleaned properly, and drivers have not been provided face masks or gloves, despite being frontline key workers.

It was reported over the weekend that five TfL workers have died after testing positive for the deadly coronavirus. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London said he is “absolutely devastated.”

Khan said on Sunday that “lives depended” on people following “the law” and to stay at home unless for essential travel.

This comes as thousands of people across the capital are breaking the law by not obeying the governments requirement, with many sunbathing, having picnics and BBQ’s.

A bus driver told Sky News that he was a friend of one of the bus drivers that died from coronavirus.

He said the 56-year old bus driver was taken to hospital on 18 March and died a week later.

The bus driver said, “I used to work with him at a garage in southeast London. He was a great guy, always a joker, loved his wife and daughter very much.”

He shockingly revealed that London buses are “not being deep cleaned, we can see they aren’t even being touched.

“Drivers are not being given masks or even gloves now because we are being told to wash our hands multiple times throughout the day which would be great but since all the shops are shut a massive majority of us don’t even have toilets or sinks to wash our hands.

He added: “We are working longer hours doing Saturday duties to cover the drivers who are off.

“We have next to no toilet facilities or places to get drinks and food. We are all scared we are going to give our loved one’s coronavirus as I have a small son. I’m trying my best not to even see him just in case.”

Khan said, “I have been clear that our incredible public transport staff on the buses, tubes, trams and trains are critical workers, making a heroic effort to allow our NHS staff to save more lives.

“But we need to play our part too and that means fewer Londoners using the public transport network.

“Please follow the rules. Stay at home and do not use public transport unless it is absolutely unavoidable.”

Unite union regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said, “Unite will assist the families of our members in every possible way during this terrible time.”

Gareth Powell, TfL’s managing director for surface transport said, “The safety of our staff and customers is our absolute priority and we have been working closely with the bus companies, the Mayor and Unite to implement a range of changes and improvements to keep the bus network and garages safe for those operating and using it, in accordance with Public Health England advice.

“Our clear message to Londoners is simple – the transport network is only for critical workers who need to make absolutely essential journeys. Please, everyone else, stay at home, don’t travel and save lives.”

The Mayor of London has warned all Londoners to stop using “public transport now” to halt the rapid spread of coronavirus across the capital.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) who provides scientific and technical advice to the British government have said social distancing must be in place for “at least most of a year.”

SAGE who are advising the government on what the UK’s response must be have on Friday published their worrying report.

A well-known Italian doctor and politician has warned why London will be hardest hit area in the UK.

In an interview with Express.co.uk, Maurizio Brucchi, a renowned Italian doctor who also served as Mayor of Teramo, gave a stark warning to Londoners, the worst is yet to come.

Brucchi said, “In a press conference yesterday, the doctors who have arrived from Wuhan [China] to help us out have told us that our measures are not enough – that we need to be more restrictive.

“The numbers are growing, but what is concerning is that there have been more than 475 deaths in a day.

Adding, “Boris Johnson has to stop with these half-measures. They simply do not work. The Chinese have told us.”