Metro will resume a regular weekday bus schedule Feb. 7 after a month of reduced service because of a lack of available bus operators due to the highly transmissible omicron coronavirus variant.

       Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld announced the scheduled resumption of regular bus service Thursday during a meeting of Metro’s board of directors. Metrobus had been operating on its weekend schedule — which provides about a quarter less service than weekday levels — since early January because of a lack of drivers.

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       Metro reduces bus service as it faces wave of coronavirus infections

       Since Christmas, about 1,500 workers, or 10 percent of Metro’s workforce, has been out of work for some period of time because of the coronavirus, Wiedefeld said. The rate of absenteeism during the span has been the highest since the pandemic began.

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       While absenteeism remains above-average, Wiedefeld said, it has been trending down in recent days, allowing Metro to shift back to a regular schedule.

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       The move comes as parents of D.C. children have complained that buses are missing stops and leaving public school students stranded. Earlier this month, five D.C. Council members wrote Wiedefeld a letter asking him to expand bus service — or at least ensure on-time reduced service — and make coronavirus testing of operators more efficient and less burdensome on drivers who are not vaccinated.

       Wiedefeld said Thursday the vaccination rate among Metro employees has climbed to 93 percent. Since October, Metro has required employees to get vaccinated or provide weekly test results.