The TTC is temporarily shutting down one of its bus garages after a mechanic who worked there tested positive for COVID-19.

Up to 170 employees are being asked to stay home and self isolate as a result of the confirmed case, which is the transit agency’s first since the outbreak began.

According to a message sent to employees early Thursday by TTC CEO Rick Leary, the agency found out the worker had tested positive late Wednesday. The mechanic worked one shift at the Duncan bus garage at the TTC’s Hillcrest facility on Bathurst St. on March 11 after returning from a trip. The person was sent home after feeling ill.

Leary’s message said that “out of an abundance of caution” the agency is asking “all impacted shop employees to self-isolate until March 25,” two weeks from the date the worker became ill. Leary asked employees who have no symptoms to return to work March 26.

The CEO said in the meantime the garage will undergo “a thorough disinfection.”

“This is an unsettling, unprecedented time at the TTC, but I want to assure you we are doing everything we can to fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep you and our customers safe,” Leary told employees.

The Duncan garage is where the TTC carries out heavy bus overhauls and rebuilds.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said the temporary shutdown of the facility “is not expected to impact daily service as each bus division has its own maintenance operation.”