GoBus fleet returns to service weeks after employees test positive for coronavirus - Action News
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GoBus fleet returns to service weeks after employees test positive for coronavirus

The bus service provided by the St. John's-area para-transit company was interrupted in late March, while taxi companies provided transportation to customers.

St. John's-area para-transit service was interrupted in late March

A green and white accessible bus is parked on the side of the road.
GoBus discontinued its services in late March after employees tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. (Meg Roberts/CBC)

GoBus has resumed service with its regular vehicles weeks after employees at the company tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

The first employee of the St. John's-area para-transit service to test positive was contacted by N.L. public health officers March 22 and began self-isolation. The employee told the company about the diagnosis March 25, according to a company spokesperson.

Days later, that same spokesperson confirmed a second employee had also tested positive for the virus.

Local taxi driverswho werealready contracted and trained to provide the service had been shuttling riders using the same phone numbers and websites for customer service and trip planning.

The spokesperson confirmed54GoBus employees were under quarantineat that time. Neither employee who tested positive wasa driver, said company spokesperson Jeff Womack at the time, but both of them would have had contact with drivers.

"We really have a small facility there, so that's why out of an abundance of caution we put everybody on quarantine because regardless of their role they all come in contact with each other there," said Womack in late March.

CBC News is trying to reach Womack for anupdate. Metrobus's Judy Powell told CBC that GoBus resumed service on Monday.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

Clarifications

  • A prior version of this story did not include the fact that taxis had been providing service to GoBus clients, while the company's regular buses were not being used.
    Apr 16, 2020 2:55 PM NT