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CATS employees raise concerns after co-worker tests positive for COVID-19

CHARLOTTE — Over the weekend, CATS employees learned a co-worker tested positive for COVID-19.

[SPECIAL SECTION: TRACKING CORONAVIRUS]

Officials said the employee works in the Bus Division, but there are a lot of questions surrounding the case, including whether that employee is a driver or not.

CATS said the employee will not return to work until they have medical clearance to come back.

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A CATS spokesman said they’re trying to get masks for their employees right now, but they’ve also run into the supply shortage.

Channel 9 has reported on the extensive daily cleaning procedures using hospital-grade disinfectant for the CATS fleet of buses and other vehicles.

Reporter DaShawn Brown asked officials how the positive test might affect bus routes or schedules. CATS said it will continue to serve passengers until further notice. It will get some money from the massive federal stimulus package.

The act gives $25 billion to public transportation systems, and of that, $63 million will go to Charlotte.

The money allows public transit systems such as CATS to pay for the coronavirus response from sanitizing buses to lost wages for workers.

One passenger told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura he is concerned there are still too many people on the bus to maintain a safe physical distance.

The CDC recommends people stay at least six feet apart.

Channel 9 spoke to an essential worker who rode the bus to work Monday morning, who said it kept getting more and more crowded.

“After the fourth stop, the bus kept getting more and more crowded,” Charles Upshur said. “That’s when I took a picture and sent it to my sister who’s a healthcare worker in New York. She was like, ‘I’m glad you’ve got your mask on.’”

In addition, several employees have raised concerns, saying they are facing a high risk of contracting the virus.

They referenced crowding on buses and the lack of protective equipment like masks.

A CATS spokesperson said they don’t plan to stop services, because there are too many people who rely on them for access to food or medical services. As for the photo showing the crowded bus, CATS said they’re working to address that by adding more buses to routes that need them.

Below is CATS full response:

CATS contractor (Transit Management of Charlotte) communicated to us that the employee is not a bus operator. This is the only positive COVID-19 case that has been reported to CATS.

The employee has been in contact with the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department and is working with them according to their protocol.

Regarding social distancing- we have the ability to dispatch additional buses. We are working with our Bus Operations Division to identify routes that require additional buses or increased frequency.

Our priority is to provide transportation to our community's essential workers in the safest way possible. We will continue to provide modified service to our riders until further notice. CATS will continue its stringent cleaning practices on all vehicles and facilities.

As we move through this pandemic, we will continue to be diligent in evaluating service and making adjustments.