COVID-19 Measures (updated list at top of thread)

[mdu]

Seeing as we had a spike of COVID-19 cases today, and considering the public safety measures already taken, I think it would be wise to have a thread about it.

Worldwide transit measures (for comparison):
Outbreak Centres
Wuhan: Shut down since mid-January (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51215348)
Milan: Appears to be open (https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-...lowing-healthcare-systems-to-cope-11583963060)
Tehran: Appears to be open (https://financialtribune.com/articl...disinfection-to-control-spread-of-coronavirus), with chlorine-based disinfectant applied on everything
Selected International Systems
New York: Open, with possibility of reduced service or Sunday schedules (https://www.wsj.com/articles/mta-sa...ice-is-possible-under-coronavirus-11584033258). Disinfection of stations twice daily, trains once every three days (https://abc7ny.com/health/mta-now-disinfecting-every-subway-station-twice-a-day/6001713/).
London: Partial closure, with anti-viral coating being applied and disinfection daily (https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...an-to-disinfect-tube-and-bus-network-11954658) (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-51946409)
Paris: Open, no change? (https://www.thelocal.fr/20200310/coronavirus-events-ban-what-has-been-cancelled-in-france)
Madrid: Open, disinfecting with alcohol? (https://www.straitstimes.com/world/...schools-in-madrid-as-coronavirus-cases-double)
Beijing: Open, with app to enter stations (https://nypost.com/2020/03/04/beijing-tests-subway-by-appointment-to-reduce-coronavirus-crowding/)
Seoul: Open, disinfectant daily and recent deep clean (https://www.nbcnews.com/video/seoul...rus-cases-increase-in-south-korea-80455749909)

Current measures (GTA):
National
Canada: Border closed to non-Canadians/PRs. (https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cb...reening-trudeau-covid19-coronavirus-1.5498866)

Provincial
Mandated closure of 50+ person gatherings, eat-in restaurants, bars, private schools, childcare centres, and theatres. (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/coronavirus-covid-19-ontario-tuesday-1.5500006)
Mandated closure of non-essential businesses (https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/list-of-essential-workplaces.html)

Transit
ML: Disinfectant daily(https://blog.metrolinx.com/2020/03/...taking-proactive-steps-to-keep-everyone-safe/)
GO Train Accessibility coach limited access (https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/go-transit-service-thread-including-extensions.4952/page-1024)
TTC: Increased cleaning and disinfection (http://ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Safety_and_Security/Coronavirus_update.jsp)
All door boarding and masks allowed for drivers (https://www.ttc.ca/News/2020/March/...RJaNLG3nbaRJvlO8m2lWVKh9h7UzZWgXyTcI3Z8tkl9VU)
Duncan Building shut down for a week following positive case (https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...after-worker-tests-positive-for-covid-19.html)
YRT: Increased cleaning/sterilization schedule (https://www.yrt.ca/en/news/covid-19.aspx)
Rear door boarding and suspension of on-board fare collection (https://www.yrt.ca/en/news/covid-19-service-reduction.aspx)
MiWay: Disinfectant (https://www.mississauga.com/news-st...-step-up-cleaning-in-response-to-coronavirus/)
Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (https://web.mississauga.ca/miway-transit/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-information/)
Brampton: Disinfectant (https://www.mississauga.com/news-st...-step-up-cleaning-in-response-to-coronavirus/)
Every-other-seat arrangement (https://www.brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/News/Pages/Service-and-Information-Update.aspx/185)
Burlington: Disinfectant spray (not sure about cleaning schedule)(https://www.insidehalton.com/news-s...milton-are-handling-the-coronavirus-outbreak/)
Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/corona-virus.asp#)
Oakville: Disinfectant spray (not sure about cleaning schedule)(https://www.insidehalton.com/news-s...milton-are-handling-the-coronavirus-outbreak/)
Rear door boarding (no mention of fare collection, assumed to be suspended) (https://www.oakvilletransit.ca/tsu-20mar18.html)
Milton: Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (https://www.milton.ca/en/living-in-milton/covid-19-coronavirus.aspx#Milton-Transit-FAQs)
Durham: Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (https://www.durhamregiontransit.com/en/news-and-updates/covid-19.aspx)
HSR: Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (https://globalnews.ca/news/6694941/coronavirus-hamilton-hsr-free-rear-doors/)
Guelph: Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (https://guelph.ca/2020/03/guelph-transit-changing-service-to-slow-the-spread-of-coronavirus/)
GRT: Rear door boarding and suspension of fare collection (ION fares are still in effect) (https://www.grt.ca/en/rider-information/novel-coronavirus.aspx#)

Other
2 week school cancellation (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-government-closing-schools-1.5495736)
Most Universities and Colleges conducting distance learning (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...-cancel-in-person-classes-due-to-coronavirus/)
Most municipalities shutting down services (too many to count)

Service Changes:
VIA: Reduced/cancelled trains (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/via-rail-suspending-service-1.5503666)
ML: Confirmed GO and UPX schedule change (https://blog.metrolinx.com/2020/03/...update-while-responding-to-covid-19-pandemic/)
TTC: Express busses mostly canelled, streetcar trippers shortened or cancelled. (http://ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Safety_and_Security/Coronavirus_update.jsp)
GRT: Ion trains reduced to 15 minute headways all day (https://www.grt.ca/en/rider-information/novel-coronavirus.aspx)
Brampton: Enhanced Saturday Service replacing weekday service beginning March 23 (https://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/transit/plan-your-trip/Pages/Schedules.aspx)
Reduction of several routes during peak hours (https://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/transit/service-alerts/Pages/Transit-Updates.aspx#454)
MiWay: Suspension or reduction of frequency for most MiExpress routes (https://web.mississauga.ca/miway-transit/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-information/)
Guelph: Saturday Service (https://guelph.ca/2020/03/guelph-transit-changing-service-to-slow-the-spread-of-coronavirus/)
Oakville: Sunday Service (https://www.oakvilletransit.ca/tsu-20mar18.html)
Durham: Enhanced Saturday Service, some reductions (https://www.durhamregiontransit.com...d&newsId=9b2ed9c1-3c8d-4117-8cb8-dd0359e9f6e6)
YRT: Some reduction of service (https://www.yrt.ca/en/news/covid-19-service-reduction.aspx)

Transit-related cases
GO Route 40 (https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/03...-go-bus-that-transported-coronavirus-patient/)
GO Route 40 (https://globalnews.ca/news/6647268/coronavirus-passenger-used-go-bus-richmond-hill/)
MiWay Route 108N, GO Route 27, TTC Lines 1/2 (https://globalnews.ca/news/6639525/ontario-covid-19-case-las-vegas/)

 

[APTA-2048]

TTC is also disinfecting vehicles. They also have a crew disinfecting the Airport Express buses after they come into Kipling Station.

 

[mdu]

TTC is also disinfecting vehicles. They also have a crew disinfecting the Airport Express buses after they come into Kipling Station.

Makes sense, most cases still seem to be coming from the US so the airport is one of the main sources of disease.

 

[Wm Perkins Bull]

I have confirmed with Brampton Transit that they are now doing daily disinfection and wiping down of all hard surfaces, seats, and the operator compartment.

 

[Johnny Au]

Subway trains are not as crowded (but still crowded) during the evening rush hour today as compared with the usual.

 

[APTA-2048]

Some agencies are now boarding through the rear door only. The front section of the bus from the wheelhousing forward is blocked off. Laval is one agency doing this.

Other agencies are blocking off the seats immediately behind the driver that are featured on Nova buses.

 

[drum118]

Line 2 guard/driver have gone back to the old way on line 2. The few I talked to said it allows them to have very interaction with the public and prefer this position over the current one.

Found ridership down on Line 2 & 4, route 29 and route 504 today. Line 1, 2 and 4 were down as well on Sunday and only 3 of us on the 97. 25 was average.

 

[Richard White]

Line 2 guard/driver have gone back to the old way on line 2. The few I talked to said it allows them to have very interaction with the public and prefer this position over the current one.

Found ridership down on Line 2 & 4, route 29 and route 504 today. Line 1, 2 and 4 were down as well on Sunday and only 3 of us on the 97. 25 was average.

Warden and Union were deserted earlier.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Warden and Union were deserted earlier.

It is gratifying to know that people are taking heed.

AoD

 

[Richard White]

We had a mentally ill (possibly drunk) person onboard our subway train earlier. He smelt like booze claiming how he was not from Toronto coughing every 2 seconds all over the seats and into the air. I contemplated mentioning something to him to stop but it would have caused more problems then good.

People were steering clear of him but he purposely came and sat next to me before getting in my face and coughing. I almost told him off but as I said you could smell the booze so it likely would do no good.

 

[hw621]

We had a mentally ill (possibly drunk) person onboard our subway train earlier. He smelt like booze claiming how he was not from Toronto coughing every 2 seconds all over the seats and into the air. I contemplated mentioning something to him to stop but it would have caused more problems then good.

People were steering clear of him but he purposely came and sat next to me before getting in my face and coughing. I almost told him off but as I said you could smell the booze so it likely would do no good.

Man you should have stayed clear

 

[Richard White]

Man you should have stayed clear

I did. I had contemplated knocking him on his ass for how he was acting but I decided against it. I just got up and moved to the other end of the car.. then he got up and walked around the car.

 

[ShonTron]

That’s what the yellow strip is for.

 

[CityStay]

I have confirmed with Brampton Transit that they are now doing daily disinfection and wiping down of all hard surfaces, seats, and the operator compartment.

That is effective, until the next person touches a surface. So..

 

[Steve X]

So Edmonton LRT decided to open all doors at all stations to prevent riders touching a button. So TTC is doing it right all along. LOL