Bus Service Suspended Until Further Notice
After a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19, the bus service will be “suspended until further notice,” the Ministry confirmed this morning [Dec 11].
In a statement sent out entitled ‘Public Bus Service Suspended Until Further Notice’ the Ministry said, “The Department of Public Transportation [DPT] wishes to advise the public that the public bus service will be suspended pending advice from the Ministry of Health.
“The DPT regrets to advise the public, that one [1] member of staff has tested positive for Covid-19. The department is liaising with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit for guidance.
“Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of others, the decision has been made to suspend the public bus service until an assessment from the Ministry of Health is completed.
“Please note that the positive COVID-19 results were received by DPT management yesterday evening and the staff member who tested positive is not customer facing.
“The DPT apologizes for the inconvenience, however, under the circumstances, it is the best decision at this time. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
This comes as the island is experiencing a spike in confirmed cases, with the Government announcing yesterday that the island has recorded 24 more positive Covid-19 results, so Bermuda now has 364 total confirmed positive cases to date, with 126 active cases.
There have been over 7,000 tests done so far this month, with over 100 new positive cases announced, an animation showing the date and amount of new positives announced is below:
As the island and world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing our best to provide timely and accurate information, and you can find more information on the links below.
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
- World Stats: Live graph of all cases worldwide here
- Bermuda Stats: Chart of the Bermuda stats here
- Timeline: Visual look at the timeline here
- Comprehensive: Our BermudaCovid.com website here
Who decided that letting all the bus drivers congregate together was a good idea. apart from toilets they should have all kept their distance as essential service workers. assign 1 bus to a certain driver etc.
We don’t know where they were when they contracted it but if you ever visited the terminal in town you will at some point see several drivers/workers in front of the cafe chatting away, masks pulled down or off completely while some still adhere to the masks policy. Sometimes the locals from the area also sitting there with no masks also chatting away with workers, no one should really be surprised of contraction when a great many people are still being reckless. The security at the gates still pull there masks down when chatting to each other or riders. So the question is why are any of us surprised? Stay safe everyone! Happy Holiday!
this is really getting crazy. the Hospital wasn’t closed when a staff member tested positive even though they didn’t have contact with patients or the public???
Surely if the frontline workers head for cover surely the taxpayer doesn’t have to pay them. I know the private sector wouldn’t get paid . Hard to imagine how a bus driver will work from home !
Perhaps they could use this time to fix and maintain the busses????
LOL
Yup, I waited 1/2 hour for the bus this AM, to later find out it was canceled, yes, late for work again! Not My Style!
Too many Covid cases popping up everywhere. Important decisions need to be made and not just talked about.
Or, are we waiting for more fellow Bermudians to go critical Care and then die? Let’s stop this. Too many places closing
Down, too big of a spike. Restrictions on non important movements need to be mandated. From my observations there is too much movement during this Pandemic. This will continue to lead to trouble in the weeks to come.
Garbage.
Might as well close the new airport when someone there gets it.
Should be 36-0
So interestingly, I met a couple who are staying on the island with the 1 year residency certificate. They have been using the bus service to move around the island and on a particular ride recently the wife opened the window to deft some fresh air in. She was yelled at by the driver to close the window because the air conditioning was on ….
A few things
It winter and our temps are in the 70’s
More fresh air is recommended for this virus.
She asked me if she should write to the government regarding this drivers ‘personal policy’
They are a respectful meek couple and are appreciating the opportunity to be on our island and as always they have had to be subjected to some of our famously rude imbecile locals who are protected by an archaic union.
Clean the bus the positive driver was on and get them the hell back out on the road
If not stop their pay!!
This happened to me on multiple occasions, too!
When will these buses start operating again??
I’m hoping to see some questions from journalists about when the bus service will resume. Parroting Tree Frog doesn’t count.
The coronovirus case was not a customer facing person, so why are the buses not running