2 Saskatoon bus drivers off work after testing positive for COVID-19

Two Saskatoon bus drivers are off work after testing positive for COVID-19.

Darcy Pederson, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said union members are shaken, although many suspected this day would come.

"We've gone so long and we've done so good and the news was quite honestly devastating to hear," he said.

The drivers were not showing symptoms when working, said Mike Moellenbeck, operations manager for Saskatoon Transit.

The first received a positive diagnosis on Friday, Nov. 13, and the second on Monday, Nov. 16.  

"Neither of these cases are related and unlikely to be linked to transmission within the workplace. Both individuals have relayed that they were exposed to the virus in settings outside of the workplace," he said.

The affected routes and time periods are:

• Route 15 Civic Operations Centre, Nov. 14.
• Route 2 Meadowgreen, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. CST.
• Route 50 Lakeview/University Nov. 15, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. CST. 

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting have taken place in all impacted buses and transit areas since the positive cases were identified.

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