Dear SEAT Passengers and Friends,

Following Governor DeWine’s order to “Stay Home” and the strong recommendation to wear a mask when going out in public, we at SEAT continue to take steps to combat the spread of COVID-19 in response to protect passengers and our employees.

In early March, SEAT took steps and measures to reduce exposure, enhance bus and facility sanitization concerning COVID-19 by the following:

• Multiple daily cleanings on buses, the Transit Center, and offices with hospital grade disinfectant,
• Providing hand sanitizer to employees
• The Muskingum County Health Department has provided a hand cleaning station at the Transit Center for passengers to utilize.
• Providing operators with needed protective gear, including gloves
• Highly encouraged social distancing
• Stop collecting fares
• Closed down all street routes
• Restricted transportation to medical, work and essential needs trip only

Beginning Wednesday, April 22, SEAT will require passengers to wear secure masks covering their faces on all transit vehicles. Masks can be medical, homemade, scarves, or bandanas. They must cover the nose and mouth. The requirement is consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health, which recommends masks to be worn in public because they can help prevent those with the COVID-19 virus from passing it onto others. SEAT is providing a limited number of washable masks for our passengers.

We are determined to take every step we can in order to protect the health of our operators and those passengers using SEAT for essential travel. If you are scheduling essential trips, we ask that you practice social distancing to protect yourselves and our operators, who are dedicated to providing the essential service during this crucial time.”

With that, I don’t know how many times we can hear “unprecedented” and “never seen before” as we describe the times we are in right now. SEAT wishes that we were operating at full capacity and transporting as we usually do but are following the CDC’s guidelines by establishing these safeguards for not only our employees but our passengers as well.

So during these times, we ask you to follow our guidance because “We’re All in This Together.”

Your part is critical to overcoming this Pandemic, so thank you for all you’re doing in helping SEAT do their part.

Howard Stewart, Jr.
Transit Director
South East Area Transit