The TTC Prepares For A COVID-19 'Outbreak' As 21 Employees Test Positive

As Ontario continues to see the cases of COVID-19 rise across the province, it seems as if Toronto's transit company is being greatly affected. This weekend, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 reported that multiple workers from Queensway Garage have tested positive for the virus. With a reported total of 21 cases, the TTC COVID-19 outbreak has the agency calling on the help of Toronto Public Health. 

In a press release, the ATU claims that the Queensway Garage has an outbreak that is "50 times the infection rate of the City of Toronto," and is asking for more testing to be done across the company. 

According to CBC, the union called upon public health officials to test every worker who may have come in contact with four individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 at the garage. 

The Queensway cases are among the 21 transit employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic has started, according to CP24. 

"We need serious and decisive action to stop this outbreak from becoming a lethal cluster and spreading any further, that means getting Toronto Public Health to Queensway immediately to start mass testing," said ATU Local 113 President Carlos Santos in a press release.

In his statement, President Santos also called for the "immediate deep cleaning of Queensway facilities and vehicles."

ATU  stated that similar measures had previously been taken at "another maintenance facility" and prevented a "full-blown outbreak." However, the same level of precaution was not reportedly being exercised at the Queensway facility.

Since the pandemic started, the TTC has been working with its employees to help increase safety measures on vehicles. 

On April 17, TTC spokesperson Stuart Green announced that 15,000 masks were handed out to workers to help stop the spread of the virus. 

Rear-door boarding and the discontinuation of fareboxes have also been implemented to help encourage social distancing practices. 

The TTC confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 19. The diagnosis resulted in over 100 employees being placed into self-isolation.