Off-duty exposure blamed for spike in virus cases at Metro

Rapid increases in the number of transit workers confirmed with COVID, alarming to some riders, remain likely tied to off-duty activities by workers, Metro officials said this week.

Along with the rest of the region, the number of Metropolitan Transit Authority workers confirmed with the novel coronavirus infection spiked in November and December and continues to rise in 2021. Since Nov. 1, when the number of transit workers and contractors stood at 264, cases had shot to 474 as of Wednesday. Nearly 90 cases have come in the past two weeks.

Officials noted this week that 184 of the employees — Metro staff are 388 of the positive cases — had no contact with the public. The agency has 4,200 workers.

“It appears the majority of cases we can track are the result of activities and personal gatherings outside of work,” Metro spokesman Jerome Gray said, noting transit agency staff are susceptible to the same spike in positive cases after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Gray said agency officials have not changed their approach to fighting COVID, requiring mask use for workers and transit users and urging staff to focus on their safety.

Enforcement of the procedures, however, is spotty and makes some riders nervous, transit users said.

“It depends on the driver,” said Madeline Guthrie, 19, as she waited for a bus Tuesday near Metro’s downtown transit center. “Some of them will make people wear it and warn them if they drop it down on

“It appears the majority of cases we can track are the result of activities and personal gatherings outside of work.”

Metro spokesman Jerome Gray

their chin and tell them again. Some of them don’t even look.”

To address safety for riders, Metro increased the number of buses operating along some routes to reduce overcrowding as officials aim for buses to be around half capacity. Meanwhile, with ridership about half its typical levels, according to the agency’s recent reports, some routes have been suspended until rider demand returns.

Officials made the changes to better spread resources as they try to operate service while not encouraging unnecessary trips. Riders, however, said that has come with adjustment and difficulties.

“Buses will pass by you and another won’t show up for 30 minutes on a route where it should be there in 15,” said rider Ben Washington, 44, as he waited for a Route 26 bus along Long Point. “Then two will show up at the same time.”