The coronavirus is still there. At RATP, he even seems to be back. Three cases of Covid-19 have been detected in metro maintenance workers in Paris, in the Javel workshops (15th arrondissement), we learned from union sources. The RATP confirms this Saturday that it is well aware of these cases.
Twenty agents from this site, which has 70 of them, also approached their doctors to take tests. "Occupational medicine has been informed and a declaration has been made to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) which will carry out its investigation as planned in this type of situation," added the RATP. Asked, the ARS was unable to respond this Saturday.
The maintenance workshop responsible for maintaining and repairing the metros on line 8 must be disinfected this Saturday "as provided for in the health protocol", specifies the RATP. Occupational medicine will go on site to answer the agents' questions. The site should reopen Sunday evening as planned. There will be no impact on metro traffic, ensures the RATP.
A likely cluster
In these Javel workshops, a first case was reported this Tuesday June 30, according to the unions. A large part of the colleagues on the site then went off work. The other two cases were revealed on Friday, according to the unions. What seems to correspond to the definition of a cluster, since it concerns at least "3 confirmed or probable cases, in a period of 7 days and which belong to the same community or participated in the same gathering", according to health authorities.
RATP had been affected, like many other companies, during the first wave of the pandemic at the start of containment. The death at 51 years of an executive of the Aubervilliers bus depot (Seine-Saint-Denis), then, a few days later, the death of a 37-year-old security guard, had made an impression.
Since then, the return to normal has been gradual, the RATP applying a distancing plan and barrier measures to its staff and has increased its cleaning and disinfection budget for its equipment by 50%. Travelers are gradually returning to the metros. This week, there were 40 to 50% of the usual traffic in Ile-de-France public transport.