GoBus employee contracts COVID-19, local taxis continuing service

An employee who supports the St. John's GoBus para-transit service is one of the 82 people in Newfoundland and Labrador who have tested positive for COVID-19.

MVT Canadian Bus, which runs the service, said the employee was contacted by public health officers Sunday and began self-isolation. The employee told the company about the diagnosis Wednesday.

"The employee is not in a role that interacts with passengers, the public or transit vehicles in service in St. Johns," the company said in a statement Thursday.

There are 54 employees in self-isolation. Those who cannot work from home are still getting paid, a spokesperson told CBC's On The Go.

The last day the employee was at the GoBus facility was March 20.

"Given the close working proximity of employees working at the GoBus Para-Transit service facility, and out of an abundance of caution, we have closed the facility, and all employees have been sent home for self-isolation."

• 15 new cases of COVID-19 in N.L., bringing total to 82

Local taxi driverswho are already contracted and trained to provide the servicewill be shuttling riders using the same phone numbers and websites for customer service and trip planning.

GoBus said it uses hospital-strength cleaners on all surfaces that customers and staff come into contact with.

Metrobus cutting some routes

Metrobus willhalt some of its routes 5, 13, 24, 25 and 26 as of Monday.

Other routes will have a reduced schedule. Metrobus already announced a nine-passenger maximum per bus.

Meanwhile, both Metrobus and GoBus have announced they will provide service only to those travelling to work, for medical reasons, or to buy essential goods such as groceries.

It is not clear how the new rules will be enforced.

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