BOSTON —An MBTA employee who had worked for the company for 22 years passed away last week and 53 other employees have tested positive for the new coronavirus as of Friday, according to the T, despite increased sanitization efforts. The MBTA has asked riders to stay away from drivers and asked that people not ride the T or bus unless absolutely necessary.

On Friday, after previously announcing the MBTA was working to get more personal protection equipment to employees, the MBTA started distributing face masks to staff. MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak announced that the MBTA had also installed temporary barriers, at the front of busses and trolleys, and blocked off seats near the front in an effort to better protect workers and the public during the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Friday, the MBTA said 53 people currently were testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Those infected included 29 bus drivers, two subway drivers and two trolley drivers.

According to Joe Pesaturo, an MBTA spokesperson, five people had recovered after testing positive, but one had passed away. Although Pesaturo said the MBTA couldn't release further information about who passed, an MBTA union, the Boston Carmen's Union Local 589 announced that it was Andrew Wong ,57, of Quincy who passed away last week after testing positive for COVID-19. Wong was an inspector at the Southampton Garage and started with the MBTA in 1998, according a Facebook post by the union.

The MBTA has 6,385 employees, including 2,683 bus, subway and trolley drivers.

The uptick in infections come despite efforts last month to increase sanitization efforts. MBTA previously started having people board from the rear doors on buses and trolleys at street-level stops on the Green Line and Mattapan Line in an effort to support physical distancing. It has implemented temperature checks at major bus garages before employees begin their shifts. Any person with a temperature of over 100 degrees is asked to go home and contact their medical provider.

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The MBTA is disinfecting all fleet vehicles – buses, trolleys, subway cars, Commuter Rail coaches, ferries, and RIDE vehicles – every twenty-four hours, and protocols to clean and disinfect all high-contact surfaces on buses during mid-day layover periods.

The MBTA had also previously distributed personal protective gear including hand sanitizer, eyewear and gloves to bus and train operators.

Poftak said the MBTA is monitoring service levels and ridership, which has been down by 80 percent, according to MBTA data. He added that if you experience overcrowding on a bus or trolley he wants to hear about it.

"This is a challenging time and MBTA employees are essential people moving essential people," Poftak said.

MBTA officials stressed that commuters should only travel by train and bus if absolutely necessary. The T said customers should "avoid any and all unnecessary service," leaving the transportation for first responders, health care workers, grocery store employees and other travelers who rely on public transit to get to essential jobs.

“We will continue to support critical travel needs of those who are essential to slowing the spread of this virus," said Poftak. "This service, along with the additional precautions we are implementing to protect the health and safety of our workforce, will ensure we can continue to provide critical transportation services.”

We want to thank our riders for doing their part & limiting travel to only essential trips. We continue to expand our efforts & enhance our protocols to better protect our employees & riders. As always, we will update you with messages from GM @spoftak & welcome your comments. pic.twitter.com/TcxIcRMW6W

— MBTA (@MBTA) April 10, 2020





Schedules:

The MBTA will continue to operate its modified Saturday service bus schedules, and will continue to try to provide increased frequency on bus routes where they've noted high ridership.

Buses:

Most bus routes will continue to operate a modified Saturday schedule, including additional service on busier routes during peak travel times.

Routes 7, 501, and 504 will run modified weekday service.

Routes 325, 326, 351, 352, and 354 as well as 710 will run regular weekday service.

Subway:

The Red Line, Orange Line, and Green Line B, C, and D Branches run on a Saturday schedule. The Blue Line and Green Line E Branch are currently operating Saturday service with increased frequency to reflect ridership demand.

Commuter Rail:

The MBTA continues to operate modified Reduced Service Schedules on all lines.

Ferry:

Closed.

The RIDE:

Shared RIDE trips have been canceled. The MBTA is temporarily extending RIDE eligibility and postponing eligibility appointments, adjustments to booking windows, updates to subscriptions.

CharlieCard:

The CharlieCard Store is currently closed. Customers in need of assistance should call Customer Support at 617-222-3200.

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This article originally appeared on the Charlestown Patch

