24 TTC employees have now tested positive for coronavirus

Three more TTC employees have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total up to 24 with 240 workers in isolation, the transit commission confirmed.

On Monday, the transit union, ATU Local 113, confirmed two of the cases, one being a TTC bus operator from the Malvern Division. The patient’s last shift was on Sunday, April 12 and he received his positive test result on Saturday, April 18.

The other case is a bus operator from the TTC’s Arrow Road Division, who is currently in self-isolation. The patient’s last shift was on Thursday, April 2 and he received his positive test result on Monday, April 20.

According to the TTC, the third member is an apprentice for a cable and telephone technician at Danforth.

• See also:
  • 38 TTC bus operators walk out due to “workplace safety concerns”
  • TTC expects shipment of 75,000 masks for employees
  • Transit union demands entire TTC division get tested following “outbreak”

The transit commission said once they are notified of a positive diagnosis, they “immediately” engage with Toronto Public Health to investigate and decide on the next steps, including notifying those who may need to take additional actions.

“At every location, we take action to ensure enhanced cleaning measures as recommended by public health officials, such as additional surface cleaning in frequently accessed areas, are undertaken as soon as possible,” the TTC said.

As there is community spread of coronavirus in the city, Toronto Public Health is asking all individuals who have symptoms to self-isolate at home for 14 days from when the symptoms begin and to call Telehealth Ontario, their local public health department, or their health care provider, and for TTC employees to call the transit system’s Occupational Health and Safety Department.

The other 21 employees who have tested positive include:

• Bus mechanic at Duncan Shop
• Subway operator at Wilson
• Wheel-Trans operator
• Bus technician at the Old Davenport building
• Bus operator at Mt Dennis
• Station collector from Danforth Division
• Streetcar operator from Roncesvalles Division
• Bus operator at Mt Dennis
• Wheel-Trans operator
• Staff member from Station Services
• Bus operator at Wilson
• Waste management operator who works in the Building Services Section of Plant Maintenance
• Bus operator at Arrow
• Wheel-Trans operator
• Bus maintenance garage coach technician at Queensway
• Bus operator at Eglinton
• Subway operator at Wilson
• Subway operator at Danforth
• Foreperson in the Building Services Section of Plant Maintenance
• General body repairperson painter at Queensway Garage
• Bus maintenance service person at Queensway Garage

As cases continue to increase, on Monday, ATU Local 113 called on the TTC to test everyone at the Queensway Division, which had more than three members test positive.

The demand from the transit union came after 38 bus operators at the TTC’s Queensway and Wilson Division initiated work refusals due to workplace safety concerns last week.

On April 20, the TTC said they received 25,000 reusable masks for employees, with 75,000 masks expected to arrive over the next three weeks.

The TTC has also started blocking off seats on vehicles to ensure physical distancing measures and has implemented vinyl barriers on buses to better protect operators.