Background:

The outbreak of COVID-19, a new respiratory virus, has spread to multiple countries, including Canada. COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruption to almost all facets of our daily lives including the closure of schools, the closure of non-essential businesses, the postponement of a by-election and the closure of the Canada-U.S. border to all non-essential travel. All of these closures were undertaken in a valiant effort to limit the rapid spread of this new disease. At the time of writing this report, there are currently 777,286 reported COVID-19 cases world wide and 37,140 deaths. In Canada, there are 7,333 reported cases of COVID-19 and 72 deaths. In Windsor, there are 65 confirmed cases in Windsor and Essex County.

The closures and/or reductions due to COVID-19 were not undertaken en-masse, but rather as the information currently available supported taking the action. Oftentimes, the measures to combat the spread of this disease have been unprecedented.

With respect to Transit Windsor, the following timeline shows Transit Windsor's changing response to COVID-19:

March 14, 2020

Transit Windsor service in place and beginning to see ridership decreases.

March 19, 2020

Announced that effective as of the end of the business day, Thursday, March 19th, 2020 and until at least April 5th, 2020, the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Bus was suspending operations and that adjustments to other routes were anticipated. For the week of March 15th, Transit Windsor was experiencing daily ridership decreases as much as 60%.

Announced closure of the downtown Windsor International Transit Terminal (WITT).

March 20, 2020

Announced that in an effort to keep passengers and drivers as safe as possible, Transit Windsor was implementing a new protocol (which was to be in effect until at least April 5th) whereby all passengers would board at the rear door of the bus to limit the regular interaction with staff. Only the elderly, passengers with mobility issues and persons in a wheelchair would be permitted to board from the front door.

Announced that a reduced schedule plan would be announced shortly and would be in effect until at least April 5th when it would be reassessed.

Riders were asked to only use public transit if absolutely necessary for essential travel in the effort to stem the potential spread of the Coronavirus across the city, should the virus appear in our community.

(First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Windsor-Essex County late on Friday, March 20th, 2020)