Bus Éireann has apologised to customers for any inconvenience experienced on services in Waterford city in recent days.
The company has confirmed that 8 staff members have tested positive for Covid-19 out of approximately 160 staff based in Waterford.
Because other employees are being required to self-isolate, a small number of services (5% of the scheduled services, according to the company) did not run as scheduled in the last week.
A spokesperson for the company said:
"The safety of our employees, our passengers and the wider public throughout Covid-19 is paramount. Bus Éireann continues to follow all relevant public health advice. Additional measures put in place during Covid-19 include personal protective equipment for drivers, mandatory wearing of face coverings, protective screens on all of our buses and coaches, on-board hand sanitiser units for customers, overnight deep cleaning of the vehicles and depots, and touchpoint cleaning throughout the day.
"We are continuing to work closely with the HSE and the relevant public health authorities on an ongoing basis and will follow all guidance that they provide.
"We are committed to ensuring that minimal disruption will be experienced by our customers. Any necessary service updates will be posted on our websites www.buseireann.ie and www.expressway.ie and social media channels."
Tom O'Connor is a representative with the National Bus and Rail union, speaking to WLR, he said the HSE are involved with the company now due to the outbreak, and the HSE is carrying out close contact searches. He said he understood some of those affected were in hospital and they wished them a speedy recovery.
The union's number one priority is to ensure the safety of their drivers, he said, and the union has been calling for drivers to be moved up the vaccine priority list - they are currently in the tenth group expected to be called for vaccination.
