Guidance to school bus vendors on the novel coronavirus
As a follow up to our e-mail communication on March 5, 2020 about Coronavirus (COVID-19), below are the DOE’s updated guidance about the sanitation of school bus vehicles.
Because of the heightened concerns about the potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus, all school bus contractors must adopt the following cleaning and disinfecting procedures in all school bus vehicles:
- School bus contractors are instructed to purchase EPA-registered anti-viral products that have an approved emerging viral pathogen claim for COVID-19 or a product with label claims against human coronaviruses. All products are to be used according to the label instructions.
- Beginning the week of March 9, 2020, school bus contractors must begin disinfecting all exposed surfaces in their school bus vehicles every Monday and Thursday night, utilizing an effective anti-viral disinfecting product. This includes:
- Cleaning high contact surfaces that are touched by many different people, such as handrails and doorknobs/handles
- Dust - and wet-mopping vehicle floors
- Removing trash
- Wiping heat and air conditioner vents
- Spot cleaning walls and seats
- Dusting horizontal surfaces
- Cleaning spills
- All non-porous surfaces are to be disinfected following the respective cleaning product's labels. Frequently contacted items, such as desk/table tops, drinking fountains, faucet handles, door hardware, push plates, light switches and handrails are to be wiped down.
- Windows are to be kept open where practical to maximize airflow to ventilate school bus vehicles
- School bus drivers and attendants should approve and permit the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Review the NY Department of Health's Interim Cleaning and Disinfection Guidance for Primary and Secondary Schools for COVID-19 for specific guidelines and recommendations.
The DOE will maintain COVID-19-related updates and guidance on its website We urge you to visit this site regularly as this situation evolves.
If you face any difficulty in procuring the appropriate cleaning supplies or have any concerns about this guidance, please contact Diane Beediahram at DBeediahram@schools.nyc.gov.
The Office of Pupil Transportation will update you with any additional or different guidance as necessary. Thank you for your continued attention to this very important matter.
Thursday, March 5
We wanted to share an update with you on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). At this time, it is important to listen to facts and not respond to fear. Health officials have insisted that New York remains low risk for contracting the virus. As we monitor the situation, we are enhancing certain protocols across the NYC Department of Education.
As a reminder, here is what the NYCDOE requires of all contracted vendors:
School Bus Sanitation Requirements
- The interior of each vehicle must be cleaned and either swept or vacuumed thoroughly after each AM/PM route and/or at least once each day.
- The school bus contractor is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting seats and all safety equipment and accessories as often as necessary for sanitary reasons and to maintain the comfort of students, drivers, and attendants.
- Additionally, the exterior of each vehicle must be washed at least weekly and must be maintained in as clean a conditional as possible, weather and other conditions permitting.
Working in close partnership with the Health Department, we will continue to update our protocols as the situation evolves.