UC Santa Cruz shuttle driver tests positive for COVID-19
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) UC Santa Cruz said one of its campus shuttle drivers has tested positive for COVID-19.
The university said it was informed about the test result Saturday and decided to let the campus community know because the campus shuttle program provides services to students, faculty and staff.
UCSC said the driver drove the loop route on April 1 and 2, but has not been on campus since that date. It said transit records show that about 19 people rode on the driver's bus route those two days, but the university does not know the identities of the passengers.
Because of protocols that went into effect on March 17, the university said it believes there is a low risk of exposure to the public. The changes include only allowing passengers to use the rear entrance, keeping at least six feet of separation between passengers and cleaning the buses several times a day.
According to guidance from the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, anyone who may have been exposed could already have symptoms or develop them through Thursday
Students who were on the shuttle and have symptoms or concerns are asked to call Student Health Services at 831-459-2591. Faculty or staff who were on the shuttle and have symptoms or concerns should contact their healthcare provider do decide next steps.
Meantime, the Santa Cruz METRO has added stricter guidelines for their public transportation. On smaller buses, the METRO only allows five passengers on board and on the larger rigs only eight.
“We’ve marked off seats where you cannot sit. We’ve capacity limited the bus,” Santa Cruz METRO CEO Alex Clifford said.
All fairs are free to avoid more contact with the bus drivers and obey social distancing.
Buses are only open for essential workers and essential needs, and the METRO has cracked down on those not following the new guidelines.
“The drivers run into some riders who won’t cooperate, and drivers have been empowered to call down to radio dispatch and ask for security or for a supervisor or police to arrive to help enforce this. We’re really serious about this,” Clifford said.
The METRO has lost 95% of its ridership, which they say is a good thing for now.
