Bartow Buses Back In Business Starting Monday

CARTERSVILLE, GA — Bartow County’s transit department will renew operations starting Monday.

According to Bartow County county clerk and spokesperson Kathy Gill, all department employees either tested negative for COVID-19; or tested positive, recovered and subsequently tested negative.

Bartow’s buses first shut down on July 10 after an employee had to be hospitalized for COVID-19. The shutdown was extended on July 15 after nearly half the department of 16 people tested positive.

Transit director Weldon Dudley said he decided to shut down the buses earlier this month "in an abundance of caution" because many of Bartow County's bus riders are medically at risk for contracting the coronavirus.

Starting Monday, trips can be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Trips are still limited to essential matters such as obtaining food and health care.