MONTREAL -- The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) says the Montreal metro, as well as the buses that run on the island, cannot be cleaned every day.

"So far we will not be doing a cleaning on a daily basis, but it will be done more than once in a week," said STM spokesperson Phillipe Déry. "If the situation evolves and we have specific recommendations on cleaning, we will continue to increase the frequency," 

Déry said there were several factors in the decision, but that the STM is following the public health authority's recommendations.

"We have into account our capacity, our human resources, our financial resources and also the capacity to have the trains or the buses in the garage instead of being in service," he said, adding that "it's still a great way and a safe way to get around Montreal."

Déry said the cleaning could become more frequent as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

"If the authorities ask us to increase them, we will do so," he said.

There's no way to create a perfectly germ-free environment on Montreal's busy public transit system, said Déry.

"Lots of people take the metro, lots of people take the buses, and we can't aim for it to be completely germ-free, just by the amount of people that take it. We are doing our part, we are increasing the frequency, but also, the best protection for our customers is to wash their hands and follow basic respiratory hygiene measures," he said.

On Tuesday, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the plan was to increase cleanings on the network, after public health officials confirmed a woman diagnosed with COVID-19 had travelled to-and-from Montreal and the south shore on public transit.

"Experts are saying that the risk of transmission on public transit is low and that the virus does not survive more than three hours on dry surfaces," the public transit authority notes. "The STM’s emergency response team is following the situation closely and preparing its contingency plan."

According to officials, she was symptomatic when she took the bus and metro on Feb. 24 and March 6 after returning from a cruise.

"There's no reason to worry, it's all under control," Plante insisted. "The city is following recommendations from the public health authorities, local and federal. We are ready."

In addition to regular wipe-downs of the transit system, the STM employees will be given disinfectant wipes in order to keep their stations clean.

Just last week, officials stated they would be disinfecting the handles and tripods in the metro cars at least once a week – compared to the regular five-to-six week cleaning schedule.

As of Tuesday, public health officials confirm seven people in Quebec have contracted the virus.