Two Barrie Transit bus drivers test positive for COVID-19, no signs of spread onboard or at bus depot

All Barrie Transit bus drivers sit behind a plexiglass shield

Two Barrie Transit bus drivers have tested positive for COVID-19 but it doesn’t appear to have spread from there.

The City of Barrie confirmed to Barrie 360 on Monday evening that two transit operators have been in self-isolation since last week after testing positive for the virus. The buses they drove were removed from service as soon as their cases became apparent, and have since gone through a thorough sanitization. The buses were kept out of service for two days.

Barrie Transit maintains plexiglass shields around all the drivers on its buses, on top of a six-foot separation between the driver and the first seat on the bus. The city says there are protocols in place that eliminate the requirement for physical contact between drivers and riders, including suspending the use of bus passes.

“Barrie Transit continues to do everything we can to ensure a safe environment for our riders and employees,” says Brent Forsyth, Director of Transit and Parking Strategy. “We wish the affected drivers well and hope they are feeling better soon.”

A statement from City Hall indicates Barrie Transit is not aware of any workplace transmission but reminds folks to follow advice from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit to self-monitor and seek testing should any COVID-19 symptoms present.

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