Bus operator Stagecoach is carrying out an "urgent investigation" after one of its drivers allegedly asked a woman from Hong Kong whether she "had any viruses."
The incident reportedly occurred on the number 20 bus heading to Kirkby at 10am today, after the woman got on to head to a hair appointment on Longmoor Lane, Walton.
The Fazakerley woman, who does not wish to be named, has lived in the UK for 14 years after moving from Hong Kong and is married to a local man.
She was left "embarrassed and upset" by the alleged remark, which she took as a reference to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which originated in Wuhan, China.
Her husband, speaking on her behalf, told the ECHO: "She was going to Kirkby for a hair appointment. She gets on the bus like she normally does.
"She paid for her ticket and the bus driver made a crack, 'you've not got any viruses have you'?"
"She just said 'no I have not, I have not been anywhere', she was quite embarrassed. She said there was one other person on the bus looking at her and she just sat down."
When she told him what she said had happened he asked whether the driver asked a similar question to anyone else, and she said he did not.
Her husband said: "She got off the bus quite upset and quite embarrassed, and quite self-conscious.
"It's not right. I'm sure he would not have said anything to her if I had been with her, because he would have had me to deal with."
He said that although his wife had experienced occasional comments in her time in the UK, this was the first incident in 14 years "which has upset her."
The couple complained to Stagecoach about her alleged treatment and an investigation is underway.
A company spokeswoman told the ECHO Stagecoach was looking into the incident "urgently."
She said: "The safety, comfort, and wellbeing of all our passengers is our top priority. All our drivers undergo extensive customer service training to ensure they’re equipped to deliver the best possible passenger experience and we take any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously.
"We have been made aware of a potential incident on one of our buses this morning and we are carrying out an investigation."
The coronavirus outbreak has killed more than 400 people in China and has spread to nine other countries.
There are currently two confirmed cases in the UK, both being treated in Newcastle, and 93 evacuees from Wuhan are under a two week quarantine in Arrowe Park Hospital.
