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ComfortDelGro Driving Centre has been temporarily closed with immediate effect, until Jul. 29, after four Covid-19 cases were found to be linked to the centre.

The centre's management announced the closure in a Facebook post at 5pm on Thursday (Jul. 15), noting that it is "in accordance with the Ministry of Health's directives".

Four Covid-19 cases linked to centre

Responding to Mothership's queries, ComfortDelGro's Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer Tammy Tan said that they were informed today (Jul. 15) that there are four Covid-19 cases linked to the centre.

As such, they were directed to close operations for two weeks, until Jul. 29.

Tan said that all driving centre staff have been advised to work from home, and deep cleaning will be carried out on the centre's premises.

Staff have also been encouraged to monitor their health, and to take swab tests if needed.

Tests, lessons, courses, and eAppointments cancelled

According to the Facebook post and ComfortDelGro Driving Centre's website, the closure affects the Ubi, Kovan, and Tampines locations.

In a Facebook comment, the centre also confirmed that all service points under the Kovan outpost at Kovan, Potong Pasir, Serangoon, Buangkok, Sengkang, Punggol, and Fernvale will be temporarily closed as well.

ComfortDelGro Driving Centre stated that all theory and practical tests that were booked for the period between 4:25pm on Jul. 15 and Jul. 29 will be cancelled, and fees will be refunded by the Traffic Police.

In addition, all physical lessons scheduled at the centre between that same timeframe will be automatically cancelled, and lesson fees will be refunded into customers' store-value accounts.

"Automatic cancellations of these lessons will not affect your cancellation count," the centre wrote.

However, online theory lessons will continue to be conducted as scheduled.

All Driver Improvement Point System (DIPs) and Safe Driving Course (SDC) courses scheduled from Jul. 16 to Jul. 29 will also be cancelled, and fees will similarly be refunded to customers' store-value accounts.

Customers are instructed to check online for the next available date.

"If you are affected by the Letter of Offer’s validity period, please approach the Traffic Police for an extension."

All eAppointments scheduled from now until Jul. 19 will also be cancelled.

Deeply sorry for the inconvenience, will automatically extend membership

In the Facebook post, ComfortDelGro Driving Centre's management said:

"We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding and patience as we do the best we can to address your concerns via LiveChat and our online Enquiry Form during this period of time.

We will continue to keep you updated through our Facebook and website should there be further developments."

Tan told Mothership that they will do the best they can to assist all affected learners, adding: "Our priority is the welfare of our learners, visitors and staff."

ComfortDelGro Driving Centre also announced that they will be automatically extending the membership of all learners by six months, as a gesture of goodwill. This extension will apply to all valid school and private learners' membership.

Many Facebook comments asking for clarity

Many people who appear to be learners at ComfortDelGro Driving Centre commented on the Facebook post.

There were some complaints that the centre had not sufficiently notified its students of the closure:

Some asked for clarity on whether the closure is related to Covid-19, as the Facebook post and website announcement did not explicitly state that information:

And others asked about logistical next steps, and sought clarification as to whether they would need to queue up again for slots:

Top photos via Google Maps / KH Lee and screenshot from Facebook / ComfortDelGro Driving Centre.