CATCH Transportation is collaborating with Philadelphia on a city-wide Quarantine Project. The operation dates back to January of 2021. CATCH is providing transportation for COVID-positive persons and their quarantining families. The city is offering these individuals free accommodations at its designated quarantine site located at 1305 Walnut Street.
 
The Department of Behavioral Health conducts COVID screenings in the community. DBH reaches out to CATCH Transportation with the location of a positive case. Drivers provide transportation from Hospitals, private residences, and group homes. The CATCH fleet will drive anywhere within the city limits. CATCH deploys three drivers who work 2 days each week. The drivers conduct transportation runs Monday thru Friday from 12 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays from 12 pm to 5 pm.
The project is overseen by CATCH’s Transportation Director, Nick Mangini. Mr. Mangini states that the project is going well, with an average of 15-20 rides per week. He holds bi-weekly meetings with the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health. These meetings help address any issues, as well as coordinate any special requests. One such request was transporting the crew of a cargo ship docked at the Tioga Marine Terminal. The operation took all weekend to coordinate and required three separate trips. In all, CATCH safely relocated four covid-positive and 17 isolating crew members.
 
Mr. Mangini’s top priority is the safety of his staff and the quarantining individuals. There is no contact between the staff and the isolating passengers. Drivers receive notifications about their next trip via text or call to a mobile device. There is no signing of any documentation during the transport. And, only CATCH staff can open the van doors. Families must assist each other if help boarding the van is necessary. Due to this rule, at least one member of the transporting party must be ambulatory. Each van has barriers in place that separate quarantining individuals from the drivers. And all CATCH vans go through a daily sanitation process.
 
The operation will run through the fall of 2021. Mr. Mangini says that he is proud of his team’s dedication to the operation and is happy to help the community. Mr. Mangini says it is a privilege to be in a position to help out those in need during this unprecedented time.