More MTA workers were sick with COVID-19 than previously believed, according to a new survey conducted by NYU health researchers.
About 24% of MTA workers who responded to a survey form said they had been infected with COVID-19, according to the pilot study.
That rate is higher than the 14.2% positivity rate for antibodies found by state officials under a preliminary review in May. (For comparison, citywide, about 26% of those tested in the five boroughs had antibodies for the virus, according to city figures.)
Nearly 7.4% of workers under NYC Transit and the MTA Bus have tested positive for the virus throughout the pandemic, or 3,921 out of about 53,000 workers, according to the MTA's figures.
"We had more markers—including whether or not a doctor had told them [they had coronavirus]," NYU epidemiologist Robyn Gershon said. "Some people may not report to [the] MTA, to their occupational health clinics. They may never tell them what their doctor found."
"All these numbers are varying because they're all using different metrics," she added. But the MTA's statistics "just don’t jive with what we know about how many people were on quarantine, how many people were isolated, and even in some respects how many people we know have died."
The mental health implications the pilot study found were particularly concerning for Gershon.
Nine out of 10 transit workers were concerned about getting the virus at work.
About 60% said they could not control worrying and felt anxious, and about 72% were fearful of long-term health impacts from the virus.
About 70% were afraid for their safety—particularly from transit users who have lashed out at workers for asking riders to wear masks.
"Here we have people who come to work everyday, they don't know if the will be attacked either verbally or physically or racially attacked and somehow denigrated just for coming to do their essential worker jobs," Gershon said. "It's compounding."
Gershon said mental health services for transit workers could be helpful, based on what she studied in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001.
"Over time, if it's not addressed, it becomes much, much worse," she said.
To conduct the pilot study, researchers sent an anonymous survey link to about 3,000 Transit Workers Union Local 100 members in August. About 700 responded within three weeks, of which 645 were complete.
The survey participants mirrored union demographics, mostly Black and Hispanic middle-aged men, researchers said. Coronavirus has most impacted New Yorkers of color—laying bare racial health disparities that have long existed in NYC.
"We put the city on our shoulders when the pandemic hit, and we are still carrying it forward," TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said in a statement. "There are now more protective measures against the virus in place than when the crisis erupted, but we can't let up."
MTA spokesperson Abbey Collins said: "To be clear, this is a poll, not a study."
"This individual surveyed a fraction of the NYC Transit workforce, and captured only those who were most motivated to participate," Collins said. "The self-reported nature of this poll would unquestionably also drive the numbers higher. We hope any future 'study' is based on science, data and facts as the MTA's highest priority remains the safety of our workforce."
Interim President of NYC Transit Sarah Feinberg said during an unrelated press conference she would be "surprised if the numbers are truly as different as they seem," but she wants to review NYU's data.
Gershon said the pilot study is the start of more research with randomization and tracking how the pandemic has impacted workers.
The MTA said it is evaluating expanding testing access for transit workers—which researchers recommended. Currently the state authority works with Northwell Health to offer testing to workers who want it.
The union is advocating for systemic, regular testing of transit employees—mirroring requirements for nursing home staff. It also wants vaccine priority for transit workers when one becomes available.
