Officials consulted on cleaning practices, protecting customers and employees, education
The Metro Nashville Health Department and WeGo Public Transit met this week to go over the transit agency's vehicle and facility cleaning practices in light of the recently confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davidson County and discuss opportunities to educate the public on healthy practices to minimize the spread of the virus. Immediately following the announcement of the first COVID-19 case in Tennessee last week, WeGo Public Transit increased the frequency of its fleet and facility disinfecting program, with greater focus on surfaces touched most frequently by customers and employees.
"Earlier this week I had the opportunity to visit and learn about WeGo's cleaning practices for facilities and vehicles and am impressed with their efforts to combat germs like coronavirus COVID-19," said Dr. Michael Caldwell, Director of Health of Nashville/Davidson County. "We need everyone in our community to take the threat of COVID-19 very seriously and do what they can to protect themselves. WeGo is helping us raise awareness by implementing a public education campaign featuring public health prevention messages such as washing your hands with soap and water and staying home if you are sick."
Metro Health visited WeGo's bus garage earlier this week to provide staff with an assessment of the agency's current cleaning procedures to ensure they are in line with recommended efforts to minimize the spread of not only COVID-19, but also general influenza and other viruses that can spread by touch-contact. WeGo is also working with its service providers, such as Gray Line and Transit Solutions Group, to assure the public that regional bus service and the Star commuter train have already begun to increase their efforts considering current public health concerns.
"30,000 customers ride the WeGo system throughout Middle Tennessee each day, so we recognize the importance of continually assessing our cleaning practices to ensure the health and safety of not only the customers we serve, but that of our bus operators and staff who interact with our communities," WeGo Public Transit CEO Steve Bland said. "We are grateful to Metro Health for working with us on our preparedness plan so we can help our community stay healthy."
WeGo Public Transit will begin posting signs around facilities such as the Central bus station and all train stations this week, in addition to signs onboard buses to promote healthy handwashing and other habits when riding transit.
Members of the public are encouraged to sign up for WeGo's newsletter, follow them on social media, and visit WeGoTransit.com to get updates on initiatives, community events, updates, and general information.