Charlotte bus, rail users should wear masks but ‘stay home’ if you can, transit chief says
Charlotte Area Transit System is asking all bus and rail riders to wear cloth face masks or coverings and to sit at least six feet apart.
The new guidance came Thursday. CATS CEO John Lewis said in a video posted on Twitter that people should largely “stay home” and only use public transit if they’re making an “essential” trip, such as to access food, medical facilities or work.
CATS buses will only serve 20 riders at a time, according to the transit authority. Some seats will be marked off with an “X,” signaling how riders should sit to remain far enough apart. CATS staff have begun installing visual floor markers, too.
The authority had previously reduced transit schedules and made fares free.
The new restrictions come as Mecklenburg County COVID-19 cases rose by 60% in one week. There have been at least 860 reported cases and 10 deaths in Mecklenburg County as of Thursday afternoon. Health officials have said increased testing, along with community spread of the virus, will mean higher numbers of confirmed cases.
CATS did not say whether riders who don’t wear a face covering or mask will be denied service. “All riders are asked to follow the CDC recommendation of wearing non-surgical cloth face coverings while in public,” the transit authority said.
Some local elected leaders have called for more personal protective equipment for city and county workers, including transit employees.
“We are desperate to get it for our essential workers,” county commissioner Elaine Powell said. “Nobody knows how to find PPE at this point ... We need to get some PPE because we are the hot spot of the state of North Carolina.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy don't we know how many tests have been done in Mecklenburg County?
Mecklenburg County Health Department collects data from local hospitals on the number of tests administered. County officials have said they do not know how many tests have been done outside of hospitals.
Non-hospital test centers and private labs report the number of tests and outcomes directly to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The state health department reports on its website a daily count of the number of tests performed across North Carolina. A county-by-county breakdown of the number of tests has not been provided publicly.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 5:37 PM.
.jpg)