Coronavirus Latest: Local Mass Transit Systems Salute Essential Workers As Part Of 'Sound The Horn' Campaign
UPPER DARBY, Pa. (CBS) -- Public transportation workers who still have jobs are putting their health at risk. Four SEPTA employees have died from the coronavirus and many more are sick.
The soundtrack of a pandemic -- horns blared and sirens roared at the 69th Street Terminal for the often underappreciated men and women who get us where we need to go.
"Amtrak, MTA, NJ Transit, we are joining in recognizing the heroic actions of our frontline workers in transit," SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards said.
The coronavirus has taken the lives of dozens of transit workers nationwide.
In New York City, the toll is hard to imagine.
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"Tragically, 68 of our brave colleagues have lost their lives during this pandemic," MTA CEO Patrick Foye said.
At least four SEPTA workers have died -- Michael Holt, Phillip Williams, Theodore Nixon and Mike Hill.
Hill was a long-time regional rail conductor who died this week. He last worked on April 2 and was hospitalized on April 4.
Hill's daughter says customers have been reaching out to the family with memories of her dad.
"We know that our transit workers, along with other frontline workers, are putting themselves everyday on the line," Richards said.
SEPTA continues to urge customers to wear masks and is now providing them. But riders aren't required to put them on.
Wearing masks will be mandatory in most Pennsylvania businesses come Sunday night, but SEPTA isn't included.
"I think it would be much better on public transportation if everyone wore a mask," Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said, "but that wasn't part of this order."
SEPTA says the best bet is to avoid using its system unless it's absolutely necessary -- for everybody's sake.
Hill's daughter says SEPTA didn't supply her dad with personal protective equipment. Last week, Richards said frontline workers -- like drivers and cashiers -- would have access to masks and other types of PPE.
