Westmoreland Transit bus driver tests positive for coronavirus

A Westmoreland County Transit Authority bus driver has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Transit officials learned about the positive test result on Wednesday. They said the driver last worked Saturday and determined the worker had little in-person interaction with other authority employees or riders that day.

The bus operated by the driver has been disinfected and all authority facilities were cleaned and sanitized, authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said in a statement issued Thursday.

“WCTA management communicated the notification of this employee’s test result to all WCTA fixed-route employees with instructions on steps they should take. WCTA management identified employees that came into close contact with the employee and have discussed necessary actions with each of them,” Blahovec said.

The authority continues to operate abbreviated bus service throughout Westmoreland County and into Pittsburgh. Go Westmoreland, its paratransit shared-ride program, continues to run door-to-door service for low-income and elderly riders.

Riders on both services are to wear masks on the vehicles and only use public transportation for essential purposes such as to travel to work, grocery stores and pharmacies as well as to medical appointments, Blahovec said.

Authority officials said safety precautions have been in place since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. That includes cleaning vehicles daily. Passengers are required to practice social distancing, and drivers will continue to block seats to ensure there is proper space between operators and riders.

All authority employees have been instructed about how to minimize risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

The authority’s transit center and garage facilities will continue to receive daily cleaning and sanitizing, Blahovec said.