The first group of three chartered buses brought 56 construction workers from Nanyang, Central China's Henan province back to Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province on Feb 20.

The workers had their identities confirmed and temperatures taken upon arrival and will undergo a 14-day quarantine before returning to work.

To help local companies resume operations and relieve labor shortages, the local government has been offering chartered bus services to retrieve employees who have been stranded in their hometown due to travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. "Sending chartered buses to pick up employees in faraway regions can also lower the risk of infection," said Zhou Min, an official at the city's transportation administration.

Companies that have been officially approved to resume operations can apply for the chartered bus services. Information such as the number of employees, their ID card numbers and health status are required for the application.

Officials said a total of 80 such buses have been prepared. Each bus has a special pass and will be thoroughly disinfected before departure.

A 53-seat bus will carry only 21 workers, each of whom will sit beside a window. Workers are also required to have their identities confirmed and health status checked before boarding the bus, and wear masks throughout the journey.

According to local authorities, a number of companies have applied for the services to retrieve nearly 600 employees.