PARATRANSIT DRIVER QUARANTINED AFTER POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST
(January 13, 2021) Columbia, SC – The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced today that a driver of Transportation Care Services (TCS), which operates DART and is a subcontractor of RATP Dev USA, Inc., has tested positive today for coronavirus during the routine mandatory testing of all employees. The driver operated a paratransit route yesterday and earlier today. The driver was immediately sent home to quarantine and passengers recently on this driver’s route were immediately notified and advised to get tested if they have any concerns.
“Because we enforced masks and other safety measures, as well as limiting interactions with the bus operators/drivers, the likelihood of exposure from the driver is minimal to none. We are contacting all individuals who were on the route in question and encouraging them to self-isolate and get tested at their earliest convenience should they have concerns,” said John Andoh, Executive Director/CEO of The COMET. “We continue to disinfect and enforce strong safety measures for the health of our passengers, drivers and staff.”
The COMET offers its riders free testing at their transit hub, COMET Central, on the corner of Sumter and Laurel streets through a partnership with SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Testing is available four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday. The times are:
Wed-Fri 7:00 a.m.-noon and 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
SC DHEC also provides other free community testing resources that may be accessed by visiting their website at https://scdhec.gov/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-testing-locations for more information or call SC DHEC at 803.898.3432 with any questions or concerns.
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About The COMET: The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 34 fixed routes, five ReFlex services, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft and DART for transportation to grocery stores and at night, ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and portions of Lexington Counties and eight Blue Bike bikeshare stations in Downtown Columbia. The COMET transports approximately 2.8 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 80 buses, vans and trolleys. Transit services are provided under contract with RATP Dev USA, Inc., Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, Uber and Bewegen. For additional The COMET information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: [email protected] or visit www.catchthecomet.org.
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