Coronavirus Update- April 5, 2020

West 65th Street Station Temporarily Closed for Disinfecting (now reopened); Three Additional RTA Staff Members Test Positive

Apr 5, 2020

West 65th Street Station Temporarily Closed for Disinfecting (now reopened)

At approximately 8:00 am Sunday, April 5, RTA Police officers encountered a male, sleeping in the West 65th Red Line Rapid Station.  While checking on this individual, officers discovered him having difficulty breathing, flu-like symptoms and a possible fever.  Officers requested Cleveland EMS, who responded and transported the individual to MetroHealth Hospital.

A review of surveillance video from the station confirmed the individual did not access the station via the rail but rather entered from the Street.  The station was immediately closed and disinfected by RTA staff.  The station has since reopened.

Three Additional RTA Staff Members Test Positive

Over the weekend, RTA was notified that three additional employees tested positive for the Coronavirus. 

Two employees, who are married, tested positive and are self-quarantining in their home.  The first employee began to display symptoms on March 23, having last worked on March 20.  The employees spouse was asymptomatic and reported to work on March 23, but was directed to go home and begin a self-quarantine.  Nine days later, this employee began to display symptoms.

Additionally, a Transit Police dispatcher reported Sunday, April 5,  to be positive for COVID-19.  Her last day in the office was Tuesday, March 31, 2020.  Upon notification, The Authority’s Integrated Communication Center was closed and was staff relocated to an alternate site to allow for the disinfecting of the center.

As of Sunday, April 5, RTA has had four employees test positive for the Coronavirus.