Phu Tho Department of Health speaks out about report 'Nghe An passenger bus driver quarantined for suspected Covid-19 infection'

On the morning of February 15, the Nghe An Province Center for Disease Control announced that the unit had just completed collecting samples from 3 people from Vinh Chung VTHK Company Limited to send to the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for Covid-19 testing. These were the drivers and assistants on the Nghe An - Vinh Phuc bus on February 1.

This move came after the Phu Tho Bus Station Management Board reported to the governing body that the drivers and assistants of this bus company had been quarantined, suspected of being infected with Covid-19.

This vehicle has now stopped operating and been sprayed with disinfectant. Photo: Contributor

However, this morning, the Department of Health of Phu Tho province said that after receiving information from the bus station about the report of suspected infection on passenger bus 29B-203.91 running on the route Cua Lo Bus Station, Nghe An - Viet Tri Bus Station, Phu Tho, the unit requested the Viet Tri City Medical Center to coordinate with the Management Board of Phu Tho Provincial Bus Station and related units to investigate, verify information and proactively deploy necessary and timely measures to prevent and control the epidemic.

Through investigation and verification, the above information is not true. On the bus with license plate 29B-203.91 traveling on February 1, 2020 from Viet Tri to Cua Lo, there were no patients infected with Covid-19 as reported by the people. The 2 drivers and 2 assistants on the above passenger car have so far shown no signs of suspected Covid-19 infection.

Official dispatch of Phu Tho Bus Station Management Board.

A day before, the Phu Tho Department of Health also sent an official dispatch to the provincial Department of Transport directing the Passenger Car Management Board and public passenger transport service providers in the area to strictly implement the following requirements, fully equipping drivers, conductors and passengers with masks, hand sanitizers and mouthwash. In particular, do not spread false rumors that cause panic in public opinion, affecting security and order in the area.

Meanwhile, immediately after receiving information from Phu Tho, the Department of Transport of Nghe An province also requested the bus company to temporarily stop operations and spray disinfectant chemicals.

Previously, on February 12, the Phu Tho Bus Station Management Board sent a document reporting to the provincial Department of Transport about the suspected Covid-19 infection.

According to this document, on the afternoon of February 12, the unit received a report from the owner of vehicle 29B - 203.91 of VTHK Vinh Chung Company Limited that the vehicle picked up a passenger from Binh Xuyen Industrial Park, Vinh Phuc to Thai Hoa Town, Nghe An on February 1. And on February 3, the above passenger traveled from Thai Hoa Town to Binh Xuyen Industrial Park. At noon on February 12, the vehicle owner received a notice from Vinh Phuc health authorities that this passenger was infected with Covid-19, requesting the vehicle owner to bring the vehicle to Nghe An for isolation and disinfection.
According to this document, from February 1 to February 12, the above car continued to operate continuously every day/trip from Viet Tri - Cua Lo (Nghe An) and at 9:00 a.m. on February 12, the car departed from Viet Tri Bus Station. According to the car owner's report, there were 2 drivers and 2 assistants on the car, of which 1 assistant had a fever and cough for about a week, 1 driver had a fever and cough for 2 days and is currently being isolated and checked for symptoms by Nghe An health authorities.
However, immediately afterwards, Vinh Chung Transport Company Limited also responded in writing, stating that the information from the Bus Station Management Board was incorrect.