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City transit officials today confirmed two more drivers of TheBus have tested positive for COVID-19.
One driver had been on travel-related leave before returning to work on Wednesday, their last day of work. While on duty driving Route 42, the driver was informed that a close contact had tested positive, notified human resources, and was immediately placed on leave. The bus was immediately grounded and disinfected.
The driver confirmed they had tested positive on Thursday. While driving Bus No. 112 on Route 42 from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, which travels from Ewa Transit Center to Kalia road, they had no symptoms and no close contact with other employees or riders, officials said.
Another driver confirmed they tested positive today, after last working on Nov. 2.
On that day, officials said the driver experienced no symptoms and had no close contact with other employees or riders, and has been off since. The driver got tested on Tuesday of this week after a household member tested positive.
The latest confirmed cases bring the total number of TheBus drivers who have tested positive for the new coronavirus to 20, in addition to three TheHand-Van drivers.
On Monday of this week, Oahu Transit Services, which runs TheBus and TheHandi-Van, also confirmed that one TheBus driver and one TheHandi-Van driver had tested positive for COVID-19.
OTS officials say they have taken steps to reduce the risk of infection while riding or operating a transit vehicle.
Those steps include installing plastic curtains on all buses to provide a barrier between drivers and passengers as they board; adding extra buses on busy routes to provide more space for physical distancing; wiping down all touch surfaces on buses and vans with disinfectant daily; and electrostatic spraying of the vehicles nightly. Also, all OTS employees undergo temperature checks daily.
Earlier this week, transit officials also announced they were testing two air and surface purification systems in a few of its in-service vehicles.
Both systems intake air from within the vehicle, pull the air through a germicidal UV light, and expel naturally occurring hydro-peroxides that kill germs, microbes, viruses, and bacteria in the air and on surfaces. Buses and vans testing the systems will be identified by “Active Purification System” decals.
Officials continue to remind the public that only essential trips should be taken on public transit, and that wearing a face covering is mandatory while entering and riding TheBus and TheHandi-Van.
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