Richmond Hill, Vaughan transit riders may have been exposed to COVID-19

An individual travelling on two bus routes on Sept. 15 has tested positive

Newmarkettoday.com
Sept. 24, 2020

York Region Public Health has received laboratory confirmation an individual travelling on York Region Transit (YRT) Route 90 and Route 16 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 has tested positive for COVID-19.

To assist with contact tracing, York Region has issued a Public Notice for individuals who travelled the following routes between approximately 3:30 and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020:

• YRT Route 90 travelling north from Don Mills in the City of Toronto to 16th Avenue in the City of Richmond Hill
• YRT Route 16 travelling west along 16th Avenue through the City of Richmond Hill and City of Vaughan

If you travelled on the two identified buses during this time, York Region Public Health advises:

• Monitor yourself for new/worsening signs and symptoms related to COVID-19 until Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 (14 days after last possible exposure)
• If you are currently experiencing symptoms, self-isolate immediately and seek assessment and testing at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre 
• Anyone concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19 or experiencing at least one symptom of COVID-19 is encouraged to visit an Assessment Centre for testing
• Download the COVID-ALERT app; get a phone alert if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and let others know if you test positive without sharing any personal, health or location information; visit here for more app details and links to download to your Smartphone

York Region Public Health was first notified of the confirmed case on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020.

In compliance with YRT’s mandatory face mask or covering bylaw, the individual wore a mask while travelling on YRT, reducing the risk of transmission of the virus to others.

YRT takes the health and safety of all travellers and staff seriously. YRT has implemented numerous health and safety initiatives to help keep travellers and staff as safe as possible, including:

• Mandatory wearing of face masks or coverings on all YRT services
• Enhancing cleaning and disinfection of buses/vehicles and facilities
• Instructing travellers to board through the front doors and exit buses through the rear-doors to create one-way flow
• Encouraged travellers to use contactless payment methods, such as PRESTO or the YRT Pay app
• Barrier shields installed at the bus driver cabs providing additional physical separation for bus drivers and travellers while front-door boarding and safe use of the space at the front of buses

YRT will continue to monitor updates to public health recommendations and provincial guidelines to ensure the transit system is adequately prepared to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Residents can also help reduce the spread of this virus by following the following public health guidelines:

• Practice physical distancing with anyone outside of your social circle by staying two metres away from others and wear a two-layer face mask or covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained
• Wear a face mask or covering when inside public places
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Stay home when you are sick or feeling unwell
• Monitor yourself for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and seek assessment and testing if necessary 

For more information on York Region’s response to COVID-19, visit here

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available online.