New safety protocol at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for coronavirus
New safety protocols were implemented this week at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in response to the coronavirus outbreak in Washington state.
The new protocols build on actions taken by the Port of Seattle a month ago, when health officials first announced that a Washington resident was sick with the new novel coronavirus.
“The Port, along with our aviation, maritime operators, and federal agencies are working together for the safety of our passengers and employees,” Port of Seattle Commission President Peter Steinbrueck said in a press release Tuesday. “Our port’s transportation facilities play a critical role in the local economy, millions of people and their personal lives. We appreciate the efforts by all employees and partners who are doing everything possible to keep travel safe for all.”
As of this week, the Port of Seattle has taken the following measures:
- Installed 45 new hand sanitizer stations throughout the airport, with 90 more on the way. The Port plans to install 100 hand sanitizers as they become available.
- Placed hand sanitizers at security checkpoints, jet bridges, boarding gate locations, ground transportation centers. Airlines have added their own sanitizer sources at check-in counters and gate areas.
- Increased cleaning frequencies at all high touch point areas, such as escalator handrails, elevator buttons, ticketing kiosk, badge readers, stairwell handrails, door handles, gate hold room seating, armrests, tables, train grip bars, inside restroom doorknobs, food court tables and chairs.
- Trained the Port’s janitorial contractors in bio-hazard cleaning “should it become necessary and follow up on any suspected incidents with bio-hazard cleaning as a precaution.”
- Equipped contractors with hospital-grade disinfectant and wipes.
- Updated cleaning protocols for employee shuttle buses, buses serving the rental car facility, and buses that shuttle passengers to and from planes. Buses will be cleaned multiple times a day. Cleaning includes disinfecting driver seating area, passenger seating area, and handrails. The Port is working to install hand sanitizer dispensers by bus driver stations or doors.
This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
