Calgary Transit says no risk to public as two drivers test positive for COVID-19
Two Calgary Transit drivers tested positive for COVID-19 last week, but a city spokesman said they don’t believe the cases pose a risk to the public.
Calgary Transit communications and information lead Stephen Tauro said two transit operators reported positive test results last Thursday. He said the employees think they caught the virus at a family gathering they both attended, and the cases aren’t believed to be linked to the workplace.
Tauro said the drivers called in sick as soon as they felt ill, and neither were working in the time between going to the gathering and coming down with symptoms.
“Part of our protocol is just to trace back 10 days prior all of their activities, and then ensure all of the locations, facilities and vehicles are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected,” he said. “We did all of that.”
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 president Mike Mahar said the employees who caught the virus are bus drivers, and they’ve been self-isolating and recovering.
Mahar said he’s still working to get more information and make sure Calgary Transit is following all best practices to protect its employees.
Tauro said in total, eight transit employees have reported positive COVID-19 results over the past four months. In late March, a training officer was the first to test positive. While the officer had no contact with customers, the case caused 27 transit workers to self-isolate as a precaution.
“We have over 2,000 operators serving over 100,000 customers per weekday,” Tauro said. “So the few cases we have had show the measures we do have in place are working.”
Up until Wednesday of this week, transit riders could only board buses through the back doors as part of an effort to limit potential contact between drivers and passengers. Now, front-door boarding is back to make sure fares are being collected, but drivers have a heavy plastic curtain they can pull across as a barrier while people board. They also have hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies they can use while they’re working.
Signs on buses and Ctrains also direct riders to keep at least two metres from both the driver and other passengers. Some seats on buses and trains are closed off to make sure people stay apart.
Masks aren’t currently mandatory on the city’s public transit system, but Mayor Naheed Nenshi said this week that might change if the city doesn’t see more people wearing them on the bus and LRT. For the time being, the city is encouraging transit riders to wear a mask or face covering.
Tauro said the city is confident in the safety measures currently in place.
“The biggest thing here is we’re in this together and we rely on each other to take care of each other,” he said.
“Things like wearing face coverings, the barriers in place, obeying the signage — all of those things inch us closer to 100 per cent safety.”