March 16, 2020

Dear Colleagues:

NJ TRANSIT is a vital link for our customers between work, home, shopping, medical care and more, and we are committed to ensuring our service is there for those who need it. At this time, we are continuing to operate our regular weekday service, and the 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew declared by Governor Murphy in today’s Executive Order 104 will have no impact on our schedules. However, we are closely monitoring ridership, and over the coming days and weeks, will make adjustments if and when they are necessary.
Any necessary service adjustments will be immediately communicated both internally and externally to minimize their impact on NJ TRANSIT personnel and our customers.

Your health remains our highest priority. As there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid potential exposure by taking the recommended personal precautions. As a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) always recommends the following everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it in the trash right away.
• If you cannot do that, cough or sneeze into your elbow to avoid contaminating your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces.

Masks are NOT recommended for the general public. They can, however, be helpful for a sick person to prevent the spread of larger droplets during a cough or a sneeze.

Please find attached NJ TRANSIT’s “Communicable Disease in the Workplace” policy distributed last Friday; Frequently Asked Questions on Coronavirus for our Agreement Employees; and a copy of Executive Order 104 signed by Governor Murphy.

Warmly,

Kevin

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We would like to thank everyone for their participation, your comments left were also very valuable. Our goal is to have these results reflect how we go into and work through negotiations.

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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Update #4

3/4/2020

TO: All NJ TRANSIT Employees

RE: Update – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) — NJ TRANSIT Enhances Cleaning and Other Protocols

NJ TRANSIT issued a press release yesterday with an update on the measures we are taking in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure all appropriate precautions are being implemented to protect employees and customers, and that our transit system’s facilities and vehicles remain safe to use.

NJ TRANSIT remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees and customers, and we continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and state and local Department of Health officials, regarding ways to avoid contracting the virus.

NJ TRANSIT Rail, Bus, Light Rail and Access Link will enhance cleaning procedures to augment our current daily practices and additional disinfection regimens. Hard surface cleaning and disinfecting typically includes handholds, arm rests, seating areas and restrooms.

NJ TRANSIT has increased the frequency of cleaning regimens for all stations using cleaning agents that are deemed effective for these purposes and contain anti-viral components such as bleach/water mixes and other disinfectant sprays and liquids.  Areas regularly cleaned include doors, door knobs, windows, benches, partitions, trash cans, elevators, escalators, handrails, ledges, all restrooms and floor surfaces, including all floor mats.

Enhanced cleaning protocols have also been instituted at Headquarters, the GOB and other

NJ TRANSIT offices and facilities, including a focus on cleaning “touch points,” such as railings, bathrooms, countertops, doorknobs and handles, among other areas.

There have been no confirmed cases of any individual infected with the virus in the State of New Jersey. The general public is still not considered at risk at this time. In fact, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is still considered to be very low.

Continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations as an everyday good practice:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it in the trash right away.
• If you cannot do that, cough or sneeze into your elbow to avoid contaminating your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces.

Additional Resources:

• NJ TRANSIT Medical Services: Medical@njtransit.com
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Coronavirus 2019 page
• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• NJ Department of Health Communicable Disease Service
  • https://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml   Hotline (1-800-222-1222)

NJ TRANSIT Medical Services and the NJT COVID-19 Task Force will continue to monitor this situation. As conditions change, further information will be made available.

***Please post for the benefit of those who do not have access to email***

Laura M. Wooding, BSN, RN, COHN-S

Director, Medical Services

New Jersey Transit

180 Boyden Avenue

Maplewood, NJ 07040

LWooding@njtransit.com

Office:  973-378-6744

Mobile:  201-253-3280

E-Fax:  908-445-3392

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