Stricter control and prevention measures have been introduced to fight COVID-19 in the transport sector in Qingdao West Coast New Area (WCNA), local media reported on March 11.

Qingdao WCNA's transportation bureau has urged bus companies in the area to conduct regular nucleic acid tests for drivers every three days. Two bus companies in the area have completed multiple rounds of nucleic acid testing for all employees.

The bus drivers need to have their temperature and health code checked before starting work and have to wear masks while working. They are also urged to receive booster injections nearby. The bus lines in the area are operating normally, and all the drivers on duty have showed negative nucleic acid results.

Three times a day, staff disinfects the bus hubs and centralized stops. Several times a day, they sanitize and ventilate the main bodies of buses, carriages, and other parts.

On March 2, Qingdao WCNA's transportation bureau instructed the Qingdao WCNA Bus Terminal and the Qingdao WCNA East Bus Terminal to release information on the temporary suspension of long-distance bus operations in the area via official accounts and on-site broadcast.

All passenger transport companies launched emergency response plans for COVID-19 prevention and control, and organized all employees to participate in nucleic acid testing.

At the Qingdao WCNA Bus Terminal, nucleic acid testing for key personnel was conducted on March 2, 5, 7, and 10. On average, more than 4,200 employees in the transportation industry, such as passenger transport, freight, taxis and subways, were tested every day.