HART COVID-19 UPDATE: A Fifth HART Employee has Tested Positive for the Coronavirus

HART has received confirmation that one of our teammates, a bus operator, has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). This is the fifth confirmation case of a HART employee testing positive for the coronavirus. The Authority has a workforce of more than 800, and will continue to track positive test results among its employees.

The bus operator last worked June 13, 2020. The 14 days prior to that time, the operator drove the following routes:

• Route 48 (Temple Terrace) - June 3, 2020
• Route 5 (40th Street/USF) June 10, 2020
• Routes 7 (West Tampa/Citrus Park) and Route 8 (Progress Village/Brandon)  - June 12, 2020
• Routes 7 (West Tampa/Citrus Park) and Route 8 (Progress Village/Brandon) - June 13, 2020

All individuals are entitled to medical and health privacies and HART maintains the security of employees’ confidentiality. We respectfully ask media to honor all HART employees’ privacy.

For the safety of everyone on board, employees and riders are highly encouraged to wear a cloth face covering over their mouth and nose when in public and on transit, as recommended by the CDC. Face masks can be made from household items, including handkerchiefs, bandanas, or scarves. This is to protect people around you if you are infected but do not have symptoms, and is not a substitute for social distancing.

HART is committed to the safety of all our employees and riders. In accordance with CDC guidelines as well as local and state health departments, HART has taken the following steps to help reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Staff using disinfection fogger

• HART continues to disinfect the fleet, transit centers, amenities and work areas - daily.
• HART is communicating with all employees and customers to practice CDC recommended good hygiene and social distancing.
• HART is providing gloves, hand sanitizer, and face masks to frontline employees. Safety shields on fixed route vehicles also provide a barrier to reduce contact.
• HART is running a temporary reduction of hours for transit service for essential trips. HART is following a modified-Sunday schedule. HART is asking customers to limit travel to essential trips only.
• Buses have been added on certain high-ridership routes daily to prevent overcrowding while staggered seating is recommended. Additional plug buses hold at certain key locations for immediate action to supplement other routes, so that riders are not left stranded.
• Audio announcements and on-board seat signage have been installed to encourage staggered seating among riders. The first row of seats nearest to the front door is closed off to maintain additional distance between riders and the operator (but is still available for customer with disabilities that have mobility devices). HART has seen reduced ridership which provides the benefit of creating more space.
• HART operators are continually notified to contact the HART Operations Control Center (OCC) immediately to report if their transit vehicle is too crowded or other potential COVID-19 safety concerns. Responses may involve dispatching appropriate personnel, contacting emergency services, sending a swap vehicle, or sending a plug bus along the route.
• HART is offering alternative work schedules if the job function allows the employee to do the following: flexible/staggered work schedules, reduced work schedules and remote working.

While we remain committed to serving those who serve us, HART asks customers and employees to exercise personal responsibility and follow the CDC recommended guidelines.

Thank you for your cooperation.