NJ TRANSIT introduces access to COVID-19 testing to employees

The expansion of testing advances Principle 2 of Gov. Murphy’s “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health.” Michael  Barera

Beginning Monday, COVID-19 testing will be available daily in East Rutherford to all NJ TRANSIT employees. Through an agreement with Agile Urgent Care and Accurate Diagnostics Lab, NJ TRANSIT employees will be accepted for appointment-only testing at the site, which opened on April 13 and is currently geared toward first responders and frontline healthcare workers. NJ TRANSIT is also working to expand access to similar testing sites in central and south Jersey.

The expansion of testing advances Principle 2 of Gov. Murphy’s “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health.” The ability to facilitate access to testing for employees will lead to quicker identification of cases, quicker treatment for those testing positive, and immediate isolation to prevent spread.

“The men and women of NJ TRANSIT have been an essential part of our frontline COVID-19 response efforts,” said Gov. Murphy. “With increased access to testing, we can ensure the health and safety of NJ TRANSIT’s workforce and build public confidence in our mass-transit system, as our economy begins to reopen in the weeks ahead.”

As an added precautionary measure to protect bus operators and customers, NJ TRANSIT has implemented rear-door boarding on all bus routes where rear-boarding is available. Seats near the bus operator have been taken out of service to allow for proper social distancing for the operator. Customers are encouraged to use the NJ TRANSIT mobile ticketing app or purchase paper tickets prior to boarding to limit cash transactions with the bus operator. Travel should be limited to essential personnel only.