Mountain Line Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (April 22, 2020) – On April 21, 2020, Mountain Line received confirmation of a positive test result of COVID-19 for an employee who last worked on April 18, 2020.
Based on guidance from Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), individuals who rode a Mountain Line the bus between April 1-18 should watch for COVID-19 symptoms for a 14-day period from when they last rode. Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider or call the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line at 928.679.7300.
According to CCHHS, individuals who rode the bus are at low risk for potential exposure due to the precautions Mountain Line put into place starting March 21. These precautions include:
- Fare-free service
- Rear door boarding
- Chain separating the driver from the rest of the bus by at least six feet
- Increased disinfecting of vehicles, including between each round at the Downtown Connection Center
- Monitoring ridership to ensure riders have enough space for social distancing and deploying larger buses or “shadow” buses behind the first bus to allow for more space when needed.
Because Coconino County is experiencing community spread of COVID-19, the following actions are recommended to prevent the spread of illness:
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Wear a cloth face covering when in public
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Mountain Line continues to coordinate response efforts and receive guidance from public health officials. Based on this guidance, Mountain Line added the following workplace procedures, effective April 22:
- All employees must wear a mask or cloth face covering while on Mountain Line property or operating a Mountain Line vehicle.
- All employees will have their temperature checked when reporting to work and will be asked a series of COVID-19-related health questions. Employees who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher or who cannot successfully answer the questions will be asked to go home and will be contacted by Human Resources with additional information.
Mountain Line continues to operate for essential trips only, and those who have another means of transportation or are not taking an essential trip are asked to not ride transit at this time. For those who are riding for essential trips, a face mask is recommended, as is appropriate social distancing on vehicles and at stops. For more information on Mountain Line’s COVID-19 response, visit www.mountainline.az.gov/health.
Mountain Line is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating fixed route bus service on nine routes, paratransit service, vanpool, and seasonal Mountain Express service to Arizona Snowbowl.