The Toronto Transit Commission has confirmed that one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19, the illness causes by the novel coronavirus.
Stuart Green, a spokesperson for the TTC, announced the news on Thursday morning, marking the first case for the transit agency.
RELATED:
Green said the worker is a mechanic “who does not work on frontline service maintenance.” He works at the Duncan Shop, where bus rebuilds and overhauls take place.
Green also said around 130-170 employees are currently in self-isolation as a result.
The TTC's CEO Rick Leary confirmed the employee only worked one shift on March 11 after returning home from travel and was sent home sick. The TTC employee has not returned to work since.
Leary said that “out of an abundance of caution” the TTC asked all impacted shop employees to self-isolate until March 25, and return to work on March 26 if they have no symptoms.
“During this time, Duncan Shop will undergo a thorough disinfection, with special attention paid to common high-touch areas,” Leary said.
He said this would be in addition to the increased cleaning and disinfection measures they already have in place.
“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,” said Leary.
