KALAMAZOO, MI -- All public transit services throughout Kalamazoo County will be free during the coronavirus outbreak.

Fares will not be necessary for Metro services starting Tuesday, March 23, according to a Metro press release.

Those services include both the Metro Connect routes that offer curbside assistance and fixed routes that run through the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage and Parchment and the townships of Comstock, Kalamazoo, Texas and Oshtemo.

To help eliminate the spread of coronavirus, passengers on fixed routes will now board at the back of the bus and are asked to limited contact with the driver. Passengers needing ramp assistance can enter the bus using the front door.

Sanitation practices both on the bus and at the bus stations ramped up two weeks ago with extra hand sanitizer available and more frequent cleaning services, Metro Executive Director Sean McBride said.

The free ride directive came shortly after Kalamazoo County confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus on Monday, March 23.

Also on Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a stay-at-home order mandating that residents only go out for essentials like medicine and groceries and that all nonessential business shut down.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

· Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

· Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

· Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

MORE MICHIGAN CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE HERE.

Below is a county-by-county map of Michigan tracking confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by a map of possible exposure sites and a chart based on the state’s daily reports. The maps will be updated as more reports are released.

If you are reading this story on mobile and can’t see the map, click here to view it on the web.

Reported coronavirus cases:

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