BUS companies have issued clarification, after issues were raised surrounding whether drivers were legally required to wear a mask -as passengers are.

With today being the first day customers are required to wear a mask in shops in Scotland, the use of face masks is under renewed focus.

One place face coverings have been mandatory for nearly a month is public transport, although this requirement does not extend to drivers.

The Government’s guidance on Covid-19 for transport firms does not require staff to wear a face covering.

Reasons for this have been outlined by some bus companies; for example, national bus firm First Group has said “our drivers are not wearing a face covering or mask while driving as this can be distracting, and for drivers who wear glasses there is a risk these get steamed up while driving.”

Borders Buses, which operates the X95 service from Carlisle to Galashiels and Edinburgh has stated that “drivers do not have to wear a face covering if they are behind a plastic screen, it is their choice".

“If drivers leave their cab to help a customer, they must wear a face covering.”

A spokesman for Stagecoach Cumbria, which operates the vast majority of bus services in Cumbria, stressed that “ensuring the safety of our staff and passengers has been our number one priority during the Covid-19 crisis".

“Our drivers have a protective screen that acts as a barrier so they have not needed to wear a face covering.

“If one of our drivers needs to leave their cab to help a passenger, for example, they will wear a face covering.”

Carlisle City Councillor Dr Helen Davison is one of the founders of national campaign group Masks 4 All UK, which urges the adoption of a law making face mask usage in public mandatory.

Dr Davison said that it has been well-documented that bus drivers are in a particularly high risk role.

She said this reinforces the vital importance of all passengers complying with the rules and wearing masks when travelling so as to help protect the driver.

“There have been a lot of bus drivers die, particularly in London. It’s been a high-risk occupation.”

While she agreed the protective screens on buses would provide protection, Dr Davison said she was still concerned for the safety of drivers given recent suggestions from scientists that Covid-19 can be airborne, particularly in enclosed spaces.

“It depends on the screen. If the driver is enclosed in the cabin they will be fine,” Dr Davison said.

“My concern is that there is a lot of scientists now saying Covid is spread through the air.

“This is one of the reasons people in enclosed spaces need to be wearing face coverings.

“So if bus drivers are not completely enclosed, or the bus is not well ventilated there may be more of a risk.”

She also said that it was important to ensure drivers were not placing themselves at risk by putting on and removing their masks when leaving their cabs, perhaps to help a passenger.

“It’s very important to make sure masks aren’t touched when they’re being taken on and off, there’s a big risk of contamination there.”