ComfortDelGro closes driving school after Covid-19 cluster emerges at Ubi centre; MOH to do swab tests

SINGAPORE — Transport firm ComfortDelGro closed its driving school on Thursday (July 15) for two weeks after the authorities detected a Covid-19 cluster at its driving centre in Ubi. 

In its nightly coronavirus update on Thursday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that six cases have so far been linked to the cluster. ComfortDelGro said earlier that it was told four cases had been detected at its centre when it was ordered by MOH to close.

All physical lessons, tests and courses that fall from Thursday evening to July 29 will be automatically cancelled and fees will be refunded to learners, the school said on its website and Facebook page.

ComfortDelGro Driving Centre’s Kovan branch office and its vehicle pick-up point in Tampines will also be closed and all appointments until July 29 will be cancelled, it said.

The school’s driving circuits will be closed to the public.

Ms Tammy Tan, ComfortDelGro’s group chief branding and communications officer, said that only online driving theory lessons will continue as scheduled.

Without giving details of the persons infected by the coronavirus, Ms Tan told TODAY that ComfortDelGro was informed of the cases on Thursday by MOH, which ordered the driving school to stop operations.

“All driving centre staff have been advised to work from home while deep cleaning will be carried out on our premises,” Ms Tan said.

MOH said that it will hold special testing operations for all staff members of ComfortDelGro Driving Centre. 

Free Covid-19 tests will also be given to all members of the public who had visited the driving centre between July 6 and 15.

They may refer to MOH's website for details of the testing operations.

For all learners at its driving centre, ComfortDelGro said that it will automatically extend their membership by six months “as a gesture of goodwill”.

This will apply to all valid school and private learners’ memberships.

“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused and will do the best we can to assist all affected learners. Our priority is the welfare of our learners, visitors and staff,” Ms Tan said.

Soon after ComfortDelGro announced its immediate closure on Thursday evening, dozens of online users left comments on its Facebook post to ask questions.

One wanted details about the Covid-19 cases and questioned if learners could have been infected.

Another complained that learners who had booked their driving lessons were not notified about the closure in advance.

“So many of us showed up only to be greeted by a locked gate! No care shown in this regard,” the person wrote.

Other people who had booked tests during the period of closure asked if they would be given priority for rebooking later.