Hide Transcript Show Transcript

DETAILS. KATIE: GOOD MORNING. WE KNEW ABOUT THREE T WORKERS OUT OF CABOT YARD HERE IN DORCHESTER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. NOW, WE KNOW THAT OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO WORK OUT OF OTHER SPOTS ARE ON THAT LIST AS WELL. THE T TELLS US TWO MORE EMPLOYEES HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, INCLUDING ONE EMPLOYEE AT THE SOUTHAMPTON BUS GARAGE AND ONE AT THE ORIENT HEIGHTS RAIL YARD. THE MBTA IS IN THE PROCESS OF INFORMING ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. 5 INVESTIGATES FIRST REPORTED THE INITIAL CASES YESTERDAY, WE DO NOT KNOW THOSE DRIVERS ROUTES OR HOW SICK THEY ARE. WE DO KNOW THE T HAS INCREASED DISINFECTION ON THE ENTIRE FLEET OF BUSES AND TRAINS. RIDERS, EXCEPT FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, NOW BOARD AND EXIT BUSES FROM THE REAR DO

Advertisement Five MBTA employees test positive for coronavirus Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Five MBTA employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a spokesperson for the transit authority.5 Investigates learned Wednesday morning that three MBTA bus drivers had tested positive for COVID-19.Later Wednesday, the transit authority was informed that two additional employees have tested positive for the virus. One of them works at the Southampton bus garage, while the other works at the Orient Heights rail yard. Union sources told 5 Investigates the three bus drivers work out of the T's Cabot Yard. We don't yet know which bus routes the drivers worked on."Following three confirmed employee cases of COVID-19, the MBTA took immediate steps to protect its workforce and riders by enacting its facility maintenance protocols to clean and disinfect all exposed work areas, vehicles, and equipment at the T’s Cabot bus facility," officials wrote in a statement. Other employees who worked closely with the three affected individuals will be given instructions for self-quarantine, the MBTA said. "The actions taken in response to reports of positive cases have been developed based on guidance from the Department of Public Health, and are in addition to ongoing enhanced measures to regularly clean and disinfect all vehicles, facilities, and high-contact surfaces throughout the subway system," officials wrote.Effective last week, the MBTA implemented rear-door boarding on all buses and trolleys at street-level stops on the Green Line and Mattapan Line in an effort to support social distancing. “We hope that the Baker Administration and the MBTA recognize the incredible commitment of this workforce when making decisions about compensation and sick leave for their essential employees, particularly during this unprecedented time. We’re concerned because members of the Boston Carmen’s Union who have been on duty have tested positive for COVID-19," Boston Carmen’s Union President Jim Evers said in a statement. "As essential employees, our members report to work each day knowing they face this risk. The Carmen’s Union has been working in coordination with the MBTA to ensure the health and safety or our members, but nothing is foolproof when interacting with the public every day. Unfortunately, the T’s leave policies fall short of recognizing the sacrifice and dedication these employees are making every day on the job. We’ll fight for our members. Keep them in your prayers.”In addition, the MBTA implemented new protocols last week to clean and disinfect all high-contact surfaces on buses during mid-day layover periods. In an effort to protect the health and safety of the MBTA workforce and customers, this new protocol is in addition to the daily cleaning and disinfecting of all MBTA fleet vehicles that takes place once every twenty-four hours. These protocols also extend to all high-contact surfaces at subway stations throughout the MBTA, which are disinfected every four hours. PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cg==For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia or death. The vast majority of people recover.