DETROIT (WXYZ) — The president of the union for Detroit's Department of Transportation bus drivers says almost 20% of their drivers are in quarantine for possible COVID-19 exposure.
Glenn Tolbert tells 7 Action News that 100 of the 530 DDOT drivers are currently in quarantine and seven drivers have tested positive for the coronavirus. Tolbert says the drivers are undergoing the new quick tests at the testing site at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit.
Tolbert also says a driver named Jason Hargrove passed away Wednesday night after being in the hospital. Hargrove had posted a video to Facebook about COVID-19 exposure.
Tolbert says he has talked with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan about how they will proceed if the situation deteriorates further because driver safety remains a life and death concern; Detroit is one of the nation's COVID-19 hot spots.
Tolbert also says some of the membership has talked about a work stoppage, but they are not prepared for one yet.
DDOT is currently operating their buses on a reduced schedule because of the coronavirus and the measures put into place to stop the spread.
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