JUTC Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

An employee of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The employee who came in contact with someone who had the virus has been in home quarantine since Monday, August 17, 2020 after complaining of not feeling well. The staff member did the Covid-19 test on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 and got back the results today confirming a positive case.

In keeping with our own established protocol, the JUTC this morning suspended administrative operations at its corporate office in Spanish Town. The suspension of operations will allow for deep cleaning and sanitization of buildings.

We are also in touch with representatives of the Ministry of Health.

Please note, that this should not cause any disruption to our transportation services.

Our corporate offices are scheduled to re-open for normal operations tomorrow, August 25, 2020.

We once again urge members of the public to take all the necessary health precautions for their personal safety and that of other commuters and to wear a mask when using public transportation.

JUTC Operations to be Impacted by New Curfew

Consequent on the announcement of a new curfew that will take effect tomorrow Saturday, August 22, 2020 beginning at 7pm until 5am through to Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, is advising the public that its operating hours will be impacted.

Buses that would normally be dispatched from as early as 4 in the mornings will now be done at 5am. This means the first commute will likely take place at or around 6am. While between 7pm and 8pm buses are to be taken back to their depots without passengers.

We take this opportunity urge passengers to not wait until the last minute to transact business and to be at the bus stop as early as possible, as some routes take up to two hours to complete. We are also encouraging commuters to top up their smartercards to eliminate the use of cash and to wear their masks for the entire length of their journey.

The new curfew will be imposed in Kingston & Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendom and St. Thomas.

JUTC – Opposition Spokesman on Transport statement inaccurate and misleading

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine, Jamaica: We find it necessary to respond to allegations made by Opposition spokesman on Transport Mikhael Phillips in a video in which he claimed there are inadequate face masks and hand sanitizers for drivers. This is inaccurate and misleading. We wish to enlighten the Opposition Spokesman about what we have done and continue to do to fight the coronavirus.

The safety of our staff and commuters is our number one priority. Since the announcement of our first COVID-19 case in March, the JUTC has activated its emergency protocol to guide and direct its response. These include the following measures:

Temperature checkpoints: A handheld thermometer is used to check the temperatures of all staff members and visitors entering our facilities. Should there be an anomaly, this would trigger the Health Ministry’s protocol.

Sanitization: Buses are cleaned per cycle trip at terminal points (Half Way Tree Transport Centre and North and South Parades), while depots and high-touch areas are cleaned twice weekly. In addition, we have also installed sanitization dispensers on buses as another layer of protection for passengers who may not have their own sanitizers. Dispensers are also installed across the operations of the company at strategic points.

Protective Personal Equipment: We continue to purchase items such as sanitizers, anti-bacterial soap, alcohol and masks. We have sufficient supplies in our inventory at the moment. These are provided to staff including drivers upon presentation at work or when requested. The company has also made it mandatory for all passengers to wear a mask to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

In addition to the aforementioned, and to afford some degree of protection to our drivers, we have cordoned off the first two seats immediately behind the driver. We have also installed a prototype ‘cage enclosure’ around the driver which is being explored as a long-term measure for the safety of our drivers who are sometimes assaulted by members of the public.

The Company has also established a COVID Command Centre which monitors the logistics of our entire operation and provides daily reports. This will continue for the foreseeable future until the risk and threats posed by the disease have been abated.

It is clear that we have been agile in our response to COVID-19, and will continue to fulfil our mandate with the resources available to ensuring that our staff and the public at large remain safe. That is our number one priority at this time. We remain ready to brief Mr. Phillips about the operations of the company at his convenience to avoid such a recurrence in the future.

Sub-franchise Operators Granted Extension to Pay Road Licenses

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited, JUTC, is advising that in keeping with the Transport Authority’s moratorium, an extension has been granted until May 29, 2020 for the payment of sub-franchise fees. The fees were originally due March 31st but operators were granted an extension to April 15th.

Corporate Communications Manager, Cecil Thoms, says we are aware of the economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on operators and thus it was important for us to empathize with them in giving them additional time to generate the funds, as we all navigate these challenging times.

We continue to urge operators to be safe and healthy, as well as respect the practices necessary to safeguard their well-being and members of the public.

JUTC only transporting passengers with face masks

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, says all passengers are now required to bring and wear their own protective masks as the cases of COVID-19 increases. Passengers who fail to wear a facial barrier will not be allowed entry on buses.

This requirement takes immediate effect and is to ensure the comfort, safety and wellbeing of each passenger and our staff.

Passengers are also reminded to respect the personal space of others and observe social distancing where required and to comply with other safety measures as announced.

In addition, we advise that passengers will only be carried between 6:00a.m. and 6:00p.m. in keeping with the restrictions announced by the Government recently.

Kindly note that for hill routes (Above Rocks and Border) including 52, 53, 54, 61 their last run will be at 4:30pm.

For all other routes the last available bus will be at 5:00p.m. Buses will return to the depot between 6:00p.m. and 7:00p.m. without passengers.

Meanwhile, the JUTC is advising that it can facilitate the transportation of government entities and companies which provide essential services. Arrangements should be made no later than 6:00p.m. daily. Contact our COVID Command Centre at 876.587.9206 or 876.587.9290 or via email – Operations @jutc.com.jm for further information.

We will review these measures where necessary and adjust accordingly as we continue to monitor the situation.