The following protocols have been put in place to ensure the safety of all riders and drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic while delivering programs and transportation services.

1. Riders must notify Dispatch immediately of any changes in their health or condition that may alter their clearance to ride with a Driver on a scheduled ride 
2. Riders must answer the COVID-19 Screening questions. If any of the questions are answered “Yes” the Rider is deemed uncleared and the ride cannot be booked/ will be cancelled. 
3. Riders must not bring unnecessary belongings into the vehicle. 
4. Riders must practice physical distancing with the Driver when outside the vehicle.  
5. Riders must avoid personal contact with Drivers (e.g. a handshake, a hug).
6. Riders must sanitize their hands before entering the vehicle.
7. Riders are not to sit in the front passenger seat of a Driver’s vehicle.
8. Riders must wear a non-medical face mask or covering while in a vehicle of a Routes Driver. They are encouraged to supply their own non-medical face mask or covering. If a Rider cannot wear a face mask for medical reasons, the Driver will provide the Rider with a face shield which must be worn instead
9. Riders must avoid touching their masks, shields and face.
10. Drivers must sanitize their hands anytime immediately after touching their mask, face or shield. 
11. Riders must not touch anything unnecessary inside the vehicle 
12. Coughing or sneezing must be done into a tissue and then immediately disposed in the trash bin before sanitizing the hands again. Tissues are provided by Drivers, however, if no tissue is available, coughing or sneezing into the elbow or sleeve is second best. Masks or shields are to be worn during coughing or sneezing.
13. Riders must sanitize their hands immediately after exiting the vehicle.

1. Drivers must notify Dispatch immediately of any changes in their health or condition that may alter their clearance to keep a scheduled ride
2. Drivers must wash their own hands with soap and water in place of sanitizer as often as reasonably possible 
3. Drivers must communicate to Routes any additional support or clarification needed to ensure the safety of all parties
4. Drivers are required to familiarize with this document with all Appendices and support Riders to use PPEs correctly
5. Drivers must have a garbage bag or wastebasket in the vehicle to avoid trash piling up in the vehicle 
6. Drivers are encouraged to seek help if they are experiencing heightened anxiety about our health and safety, along with the negative emotional impacts of physical distancing.
7. Drivers must answer the COVID-19 Screening questions and fully to ensure the safety of all parties. If any of the questions are answered “Yes” the Driver is considered uncleared and the ride will be cancelled. If all answers are “No” to all questions the Driver is considered cleared and the scheduled ride can continue
8. Drivers must not bring unnecessary clutter or belongings into the vehicle 
9. When meeting with the client
10. Drivers must ask the Rider the COVID-19 Screening questions when confirming the ride for every Rider prior to the Rider entering the vehicle. If any of the questions are answered “Yes” the ride will be cancelled and the Driver will notify Dispatch. Only if all answers are “No” to the questions the ride can continue
11. Drivers must practice physical distancing with Riders when outside the vehicle 
12. Drivers must avoid personal contact with Riders (e.g. a handshake, a hug)
13. If the Rider is without their own hand sanitizer Drivers must offer Riders hand-sanitizer to cleanse their hands before entering the vehicle 
14. Drivers must provide Riders a face masks or shield if the Rider is without one and notify Dispatch that same day to ensure ample supplies are available
15. Drivers must sanitize their hands before a ride begins 
16. When delivering food
17. Drivers must sanitize hands before and after carrying food hampers or meals (note: some Food Pantries require the drivers to wear gloves
18. When delivering food hampers or meals, Drivers must ensure contactless delivery; Deliver the package at the recipient’s front door
19. Drivers must wear a non-medical face mask or covering when in contact with the Rider(s) and at all times while Riders are in the vehicle 
20. Drivers must avoid touching their masks, shields and face 
21. Drivers must sanitize their hands anytime immediately after touching their mask, face or shield 
22. Coughing or sneezing must be done into a tissue and then immediately disposed in the trash bin before sanitizing the hands again. Tissues are provided by Drivers, however, if no tissue is available, coughing or sneezing into the elbow or sleeve is second best. Masks or shields are to be worn during coughing or sneezing 
23. Drivers must open the windows during a ride when possible and set the circulating vents to Fresh Air (bringing in air from outside rather than circulating interior air) 
24. Drivers must sanitize hands after accepting money from a Rider
25. Drivers must clean and sanitize inside their vehicle and, if used, disinfect face shield 

1. The seating capacity of vehicles is reduced to help maintain social distancing when passengers are seated and seats to establish a minimum of 6 feet / 2 meter separation between passengers,
2. Riders and the driver must not board the bus if they feel ill, are symptomatic or have been confirmed to have COVID-19, have been in contact with a confirmed case in the past 14 days or have travelled outside of the country in the past 14 days. A sign is placed on the bus and all passengers will be asked to read it and confirm that they are not symptomatic or have travelled outside the country.
3. Riders must wear non-surgical masks
4. Riders must not eat or drink while onboard

1. Drivers must be behind a protective plexi-glass barrier and must wear a face mask whenever they are not behind this barrier.
2. Drivers must establish boarding and exiting procedures to ensure social distancing is maintained
3. Drivers must direct individuals to board one at a time, starting with rear-most seats first,
4. Driver must load the bus from back to front and unload the bus front to back.
5. Drivers must direct individuals to exit one at a time, starting with the front-most seats first.
6. Drivers must ensure non-surgical masks are available.
7. Drivers must follow cleaning and disinfecting guidelines to, clean and disinfect the vehicle (all high-touch surfaces, door handles, seat belts, seats, windows etc.) prior to boarding and, after the passengers have exited the vehicle.