Second SCAT Bus Driver Tests Positive for Coronavirus: County

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Less than a week after a Sarasota County Area Transit driver tested positive for coronavirus, a second bus operator has tested positive, Sarasota County said in a news release.

The second driver tested positive Friday, while the first received their positive result Jan. 9.

The unnamed second driver operated the Route 1 bus Jan. 10 from 8:45 a.m. to 7:10 p.m., and the Route 40 bus Jan. 11 and 12 from 7:40 a.m. to 5:35 p.m., the county said.

The first unnamed driver operated the Route 14 bus Jan. 5-6 from 2:15 to 7:03 p.m., and the Route 12 bus Jan. 7 from 1:45 to 9:10 p.m., according to a news release from Sarasota County.

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County recommends that anyone who rode these routes on those dates should monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.

Any passenger that suspects they have been exposed or experiences COVID-19 symptoms should contact their health care provider, DOH-Sarasota or visit one of the free state-run testing sites at 5400 Bradenton Road in Sarasota or the Robert L. Taylor Center at 1845 34th Street in Sarasota, the county said.

Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

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SCAT buses are sanitized every night and cleaned throughout the day, and SCAT bus operators have been provided face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and operational changes. Riders with COVID-19 systems are asked not to use SCAT services.

Fares for SCAT and SCAT Plus services are currently suspended to limit passenger interactions. Riders should also enter through the rear doors, practice social distancing and wear masks while using SCAT, the county said.