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OC Transpo driver tests positive for COVID-19

An OC Transpo driver who drove five buses on 16 routes in the hours before feeling sick has tested positive for COVID-19.

Drove 5 buses on 16 routes in hours before developing symptoms on March 20

A sandwich board at Ottawa's Parliament station informs riders about temporary rear boarding rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. (David Richard/CBC)

An OC Transpo driver has tested positive for COVID-19.

John Manconi, the head of the transit agency, wrote in amemo on Tuesday the unnamed driverhasbeen in self-isolation since developing symptoms on March 20.

Theyhad been driving earlier that day.

Manconi said buses driven by the operator March 18, 19 and 20 were removed from service at an unspecified date and will get cleaned and sanitized before returning to service.

Rear boarding and physical separation of the driver from most of the rest of the passengers was in place by then.

OC Transpo is dividing the driver and accessible seating areas of buses from the rest of the passenger area for safety during the coronavirus pandemic. (Jean-Franois Poudrier/Radio-Canada)

OC Transposaid it has been workingwith Ottawa Public Health (OPH) to find people who hadbeen in close contact with the driver, including other OC Transpo employees.

OPH told the city the "key dates are the period 48 hours prior to the first day the employee showed symptoms."

OC Transposaid the operator drove 5 buses on March 18, 19 and 20,serving the following routes:

March 18

  • Route 19: St-Laurent station at 2:27 p.m. to Parliament station 3:14 p.m.
  • Route 63: Tunney's Pasture station 3:36 p.m. to Innovation Park & Ride 4:28 p.m.
  • Route 63: Innovation Park & Ride 4:30 p.m. to Tunney's Pasture station 5:12 p.m.
  • Route 57: Tunney's Pasture station 5:25 p.m. to Bayshore station5:47 p.m.
  • Route 85: Bayshore station 5:47 p.m. to Terrasses de la Chaudire 6:39 p.m.
  • Route 85: Terrasses de la Chaudire6:50 p.m. to Bayshore station 7:36 p.m.
  • Route 85: Bayshore station 7:41 p.m. to Terrasses de la Chaudire 8:23 p.m.

March 19 and 20

  • Route 64: Lincoln Fields station 11:24 a.m. to Innovation Park & Ride 11:51 a.m.
  • Route 64: Innovation Park & Ride 11:53 a.m. to Tunney's Pasture station 12:41 p.m.
  • Route 50: Tunney's Pasture station 12:55 p.m. to Lincoln Fields station 1:24 p.m.
  • Route 85: Lincoln Fields station 1:44 p.m. to Terrasses de la Chaudire 2:20 p.m.
  • Route 85: Terrasses de la Chaudire 2:26 p.m. to Bayshore station 3:23 p.m.
  • Route 85: Bayshore station 3:32 p.m. to Terrasses de la Chaudire4:25 p.m.
  • Route 85: Terrasses de la Chaudire 4:32 p.m. to Bayshore station 5:30 p.m.
  • Route 57: Bayshore station 5:42 p.m. to Tunney's Pasture station6:08 p.m.
  • Route 75: Tunney's Pasture station6:15 p.m. to Barrhaven Centre 6:42 p.m.

OC Transpo customers who have concerns about possible exposure to the operator can contact Ottawa Public Health at613-580-6744 orvisittheir website.

Other city employees who have tested positive include two Ottawa police officers, an Ottawa paramedic and a staff member in the city's Constellation Drive offices in Nepean.

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