Toronto Public Health says there’s no need for residents to avoid taking crowded public transit vehicles to prevent the spread of COVID-19, after officials in neighbouring New York state asked commuters to stay clear of packed buses and subways.

At a press event Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it was important for riders to avoid close contact with other passengers on transit vehicles.

The day before he declared a state of emergency over the spread of the disease. As of Monday, New York state had 142 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to its public health department. There are indications some residents there contracted the virus through local transmission, rather than while travelling to other affected regions or through close contact with a patient who had travelled.

As of Monday, Ontario officials said the number of confirmed cases in the province numbered 35. Toronto Public Health has reported 17 cases in the city, and says none are the result of local transmission.

“If you can, move to a train car that is not as dense. If you see a packed train car, let it go by, wait for the next train. Same if you’re taking a bus,” Cuomo said, according to news reports.

“It’s the density, the proximity that we’re trying to reduce.”

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a similar warning in a series of tweets Sunday.

“If the train that pulls up is too packed, move to a different car or wait to take the next one. Bike or walk to work if you can,” he said.

The governor and mayor both urged residents to avoid transit altogether and work from home if they’re able.

Among those who have tested positive in the state is Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that operates the region’s airports, bridges, tunnels and bus terminals.

Toronto Public Health spokesperson Lenore Bromley didn’t elaborate on why advice from New York officials might differ from that provided by Toronto health authorities, but said in an email that “currently, there is no evidence of local transmission of COVID-19” and referred the Star to statements made Friday by Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health.

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At the time, de Villa urged Torontonians “to go about their regular lives, but stay informed.” She said she and her family would “continue to go about our regular routines and activities ... This means continuing to use public transit for our daily commuting.”

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said Monday the Toronto transit agency had no reason to believe riders are at risk.

“Our advice comes from public health professionals. They have not told us anything like that,” he said in an email, referring to New York officials’ advice.

Green said the TTC hasn’t observed any decrease in ridership that could be attributed to concerns over the virus.

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Matt Llewellyn, a spokesperson for Metrolinx, the provincial agency that operates GO Transit, didn’t directly address New York officials’ advice. But he said that in some ways “Metrolinx is doing more than is needed to stay ahead of the COVID-19 virus,” and has a strategy in place “to protect our customers and staff, while also ensuring everyone receives the best advice from the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and local public health experts — rather than rumours and misinformation.”

“Toronto’s medical officer has said she and her family will continue to use public transit, adding the risk of transmission is extremely low unless you are in sustained contact with an infected person,” he noted.

Toronto-area transit agencies say they have taken extra steps to ensure passenger safety in the wake of the global outbreak. In late January, the TTC instituted daily disinfection of touch points such as handrails on vehicles and at stations.

Metrolinx has started spraying GO Transit buses, trains and stations with an antimicrobial agent designed to last for up to a year. The TTC is also considering using the product.

The TTC is warning that riders on its 900 Airport Express bus route servicing Pearson Airport could experience delays as a result of the agency’s decision to wipe down each vehicle when it arrives from the airport at Kipling station.

Green said the policy is in addition to the nightly deep clean each TTC vehicle is getting. The agency is taking extra steps on the Airport Express “in response to inquiries from employees and customers given as the airport is the first port of call for people arriving from international destinations.”

He added, “We’re working with our cleaners to improve the efficiency but it is possible there could be occasional delays to the scheduled service at Kipling.”

For now, the TTC isn’t performing end-of-trip wipe-downs of buses on the other routes servicing the airport, which are the 52A Lawrence West, 300A Bloor-Danforth and 332 Eglinton West.

Green said the focus was on the 900 route because it carries more international travellers than the other lines.

Last week, Toronto officials announced that a person who has since been diagnosed with COVID-19 rode public transit for three days between March 2 and 4 on the TTC, GO and MiWay. Toronto Public Health reassured riders in a statement that day, saying “the TTC continues to be a safe method of travel.”

On Sunday, Metrolinx confirmed a woman with symptoms of COVID-19 rode a GO bus from Pearson Airport to Richmond Hill on March 2. She was wearing a surgical mask and had limited contact with anyone on board. She’s now in self-isolation.

Prior to that, on Feb. 26 another woman who later tested positive for the disease also took GO from Pearson to Richmond Hill.

Metrolinx said the health risk to other passengers was low.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

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