COVID-19 in Legacy: Advice for Commuters

Photo: Pipxabay/jackmac34

Companies in Legacy are taking proactive steps to keep the Coronavirus out of the workplace. LegacyConnect isn’t a health expert, so we asked DART and the City of Plano to review our advice for employers and the simple steps they could use to inform their employees regarding transportation and mobility.

Your company is probably already urging your employees to follow these smart tips:

• Wash your hands often

• Keep unwashed hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth

• Bump elbows instead of shaking hands

• Stay home if you are sick, and avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, then wash your hands

• Regularly disinfect frequently touched, hard, non-porous surfaces in highly trafficked spaces

If you or your company have questions or need guidance on a health risk assessment you can contact Collin County Health or visit the CDC website for more information regarding travel alerts and/or restrictions.

Mobility related considerations for commuters

Remind employees who share rides (carpooling, vanpooling) to have open and intentional discussions about steps they can take to protect each other from contracting the coronavirus.

Anyone who is ill should stay home. Anyone who has come into contact with someone who has the virus should, in an abundance of caution, stay home and let their employer/commute group know. This will help everyone feel more comfortable about the ground rules.

Because transit, like elevators and other public spaces, is complicated, we asked DART to provide information for transit riders.

Here’s what DART had to say:

• We encourage passengers who feel sick or are experiencing symptoms to stay home and avoid public places.

• We have already begun escalating processes for vehicle cleanings.

• Buses and light rail vehicles are cleaned nightly.

• Buses receive a deep cleaning weekly, and light rail vehicles receive a deep cleaning every two weeks.

• Vehicles are sanitized with cleaning agents identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as successful in killing the coronavirus, as well as influenza, rhinovirus, norovirus, salmonella, staphylococcus, and e-coli.

• We will continue to enforce procedures to isolate vehicles and areas that have been exposed to potentially infectious diseases. This includes removing vehicles from service that have been exposed to biohazard situations from passengers.

• We want to remind all our riders that the best way to stay informed about changes in service is through DART Alerts. Customers can sign-up for DART Alerts at www.dart.org.

In areas around the world already seeing higher infection rates, some companies are actively encouraging employees to work from home.

Other companies are already conducting test runs for similar steps. According to a recent report from CNN Business, JPMorgan Chase asked 10 percent of its workforce to work from home for a day to test remote capabilities. This move could pave the way for more employees being asked to work from home as the outbreak ramps up.

Ask your emergency response leadership if this is considered in their plans (if your company doesn’t already have a robust telework program, it may take time for IT preparations and managers to reconfigure team management/reporting, etc.)

If your company provides shuttles, rides, etc., consider establishing specific requirements for drivers including implementing a hand-washing schedule, cleaning vehicles regularly, stocking up on vehicle supplies (hand cleaner, tissues, disposal options, etc.), and establishing signage.