Another three cases of COVID-19 have been reported at Barrie Transit.
The city says there are currently six Barrie Transit staff isolating at home following a positive test result.
An outbreak was declared at the public transport agency last week, after the health unit determined two of the cases may be related.
Officials say all buses are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after service each day and receive additional mid-day sanitization to further improve safety measures.
The SMDHU continues to support the health policies and practices that Barrie Transit has in place, and as a result they believe the risk of spread is low.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Barrie Transit has taken extra precautions to keep employees and riders safe and continues to follow the direction of the Health Unit. These measures include:
- plexiglass shield around the driver
- at least six feet of space between the driver and the first seat on the bus
- enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of vehicles
- requirement for masks in public areas
- hand sanitizers on all vehicles
- capacity limitations to support physical distancing
- active screening of all employees completed on a daily basis
- protocols in place that eliminates the requirement for physical contact between drivers and riders
Barrie Transit staff wear a mask or face covering when working in the public areas of the indoor public space unless the staff member is within or behind a physical barrier or is in an area of the premises that is not designated for public access. The operators (drivers) do not have to wear masks as they are separated from the public by plexiglass shields installed on buses. They do need to wear masks if they exit the driver seat/plexiglass area to secure a wheelchair/mobility device or enter the public area of the vehicle.