Bellaire route bus operator tests positive for COVID-19, METRO says

A bus operator for Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County who drove the 2 Bellaire route has tested positive for COVID-19, the transit provider reported May 9.

METRO is asking anyone who rode the route from 6 a.m.-4:44 p.m., from March 9-11, 13 and 16-20 to monitor themselves for possible symptoms; contact a health care provider if they develop any symptoms; and self-isolate to avoid exposing others, according to a news release.

This brings the total number of cases to 17 METRO employees and two contractors since March 29 out of a total workforce of more than 4,200.

In the meantime, the transit provider is working with public health officials to identify and notify anyone who rode the bus on that route during the time frame.

This comes as METRO has put measures in place to slow the spread of the virus, including temporarily suspending collecting fares to avoid unnecessary contact as well as installing orange mesh fencing across the aisles of every local bus to assure appropriate distancing between operators and passengers.