By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

ROCKFORD – Two Rockford Mass Transit District employees have tested positive for COVID-19, the organization reported Thursday.

The workers, a bus driver and administrative employee, are self-isolating at home. The RMTD is working with the Winnebago County Health Department in attempts to trace who the workers may have exposed and from where they caught the virus. The district is also working with the American Public Transportation Association and the Illinois Public Transportation Association since the outbreak of this disease to ensure it uses best practices to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The district says operators are wearing face coverings, using and distributing hand sanitizers and adjusting boarding and aligning methods to limit person-to-person contact. Staff is also making sure RMTD vehicles and facilities are property cleaned and are stressing social distancing among riders and workers.

“As the situation continues to evolve we will continue to implement further practices to help protect all of our employees, our riders and the community,” RMTD Executive Director Michael Stubbe said in a statement.

As of Thursday, there are 144 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Winnebago, including eight deaths. Several hundred tests are pending.

This story has been updated to reflect that there are 144 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Winnebago County, including eight  deaths.