Buses in Cornwall have adopted new emergency Coronavirus routes after seeing the number of people using public transport dropping heavily.

As a result, Cornwall Council and First Kernow have prioritised services which provide transport for key workers and to services such as supermarkets and hospitals.

Cornwall Council has been working with bus operators in Cornwall to ensure a service can continue to be provided with passenger numbers falling to less than 10% of the normal levels.

Geoff Brown, Cabinet member for transport, said:

"The focus for our public bus services is on getting key workers to work and back home again.

"March 29th was our target to introduce an upgraded and fully integrated public transport network. But, understandably, patronage of all bus routes have fallen to an all-time low, with currently less than 10% of the normal numbers travelling. As a consequence, it is not viable and indeed prudent to operate a full public bus network.

"Instead, local bus services will be designed to help protect the NHS at this unprecedented time and to support the national government's social distancing guidance.

"My team have been holding talks with First Kernow and Go-Ahead Cornwall over what level of bus service is to be offered – we have agreed on a 'social need' timetable which is an assortment of

Saturday and Sunday timetable level of frequency. It's not perfect but can be amended as we go on when we see what's needed.

"The new timetable for the supported more rural routes run by 'Transport for Cornwall' was due to start on March 29th but, like the commercial services, will now also operate on a reduced service due to very low passenger numbers. The newly-planned service from south-east Cornwall to Derriford (Hospital) will commence, however, as it is vital for many key workers in the NHS but again with a reduced service."

List of bus services now operating:

22 – St Austell to Truro

33 – St Keverne to Helston including stops at Helston Sainsbury's

34 – Redruth to Lizard including stops at Helston Tesco and Helston Sainsburys

35 & 35A – Falmouth to Helston including stops at Falmouth Hospital, Helston Tesco and Helston Sainsbury's

36 – Truro to Gweek Quay including stops at Helston Tesco and Helston Sainsburys

38 – Camborne to Helston via Praze an Beeble

39 – Camborne to Helston including stops at Helston Tesco

42 – Falmouth to Camborne including stops at Penryn, Penryn Asda, Pool Tesco Extra and Camborne Tesco

46 – Camborne to Truro including stops at Pool Tesco Extra, Redruth Tesco

47 – Camborne to Truro including stops at Pool tesco Extra, Redruth, Treliske

50 – Truro to St Mawes

65 & 65A – Falmouth Town Service

67 – Falmouth Circular

69 & 69A – Falmouth to Mylor Bridge/Penryn Campus including stops at Penryn and Penryn Asda

85 – Newquay to Truro including stop at Newquay Morrisons

93 – Newquay to Truro including stop at St Columb Road Co-op

304 – Porthtowan to Truro including stop at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske

315 – St Agnes to Redruth including stop at Redruth Tesco

484 – Truro City Service including stop at Sainsbury's

493 – Truro to Feock

494 – Truro to Treliske Circular including stops at RCH and Sainsbury's

495 – Truro to Treffry Road Circular

497 – Truro to Summercourt

First Kernow services

T1 – Penzance to Truro including stops at Hayle, Camborne, Pool and Treliske

T2 – St Ives to Truro including stops at Hayle, Redruth, Camborne, Pool and Treliske

U1 – Falmouth to Truro including stop at Penryn

U2 – Falmouth to Redruth including stop in Penryn

U4 – Penryn Campus to Penzance including stops at Helston Tesco and Porthleven

A17 – Pendeen to St Ives including stops at St Just and Penzance

24 – Fowey to Mevagissey including stops at St Blazey, St Austell Asda and St Austell

27 – Truro to Bodmin including stops at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, St Austell and Bodmin Morrisons

87 – Newquay to Truro including stops at Newquay Morrisons, Perranporth, St Agnes and Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske

91 – Truro to Newquay