We thank Mr Teo Kok Seah for his suggestion (Deploy safe distancing ambassadors on buses and trains, 26 Jan).

Keeping the public transport network safe during the pandemic is extremely important.  Hence, public transport operators have stepped up cleaning, especially at high-contact areas; all commuters are required to wear a mask and adhere to safe management measures; the PTOs have also deployed staff on the ground to remind commuters.

To date, there is no evidence to suggest that local cases of transmission occurred on public transport. A key reason is good ventilation, due to the design of the air conditioning system and the motion of the train. Practically 100% of the air in our train cabins are changed at least once every six minutes.

A 2020 study by A*STAR on droplets dispersal on trains concluded that the safe management measures, particularly mask wearing, are effective in keeping transmission risks very low.

We seek everyone’s cooperation to continue adhering to all prevailing safe management measures. Employers are encouraged to implement flexible workplace hours and stagger start and end times for their employees to spread out peak hour traffic.

Yeo Teck Guan (Mr) 
Senior Group Director, Public Transport 
Land Transport Authority