You are reading

MTA Announces That it is Taking Precautions Against Coronavirus

Photo: Stock Unsplash

Jan. 29, 2020 By Kristen Torres

The MTA announced yesterday that it is taking all appropriate precautions to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus in the city.

The agency said that while there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in New York, it stands ready to make sure that its employees and its 8 million daily customers–across the NYC Transit, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road– are kept safe.

The MTA said that it is assessing contingency plans and materials used in the past to address health conditions should the Centers for Disease Control recommend further action by transportation networks. The MTA said it is working closely with state and federal health officials.

“We take this issue very seriously, and are following the CDC’s lead while we further monitor the situation and evaluate contingency plans,” said Patrick Warren, Chief Safety Officer of the MTA. “In the meantime, we encourage everyone to take the standard precautions they would during any flu season.”

MTA officials are urging their employees get flu shots. Additionally, they are advising customers to take additional precautions–such as washing their hands, avoiding contact with sick people, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue. The agency is also asking customers to stay home if sick.

The coronavirus first appeared in China last year, and the United States saw its first case of the virus on Jan. 21, according to the CDC.

The CDC said individuals who are experiencing symptoms and may have traveled to areas of concern, or have been in contact with someone who has traveled to those areas, should get checked out by a healthcare provider.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

2 Comments

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Lawmakers secure federal funding to combat flooding in Queens after impact of Hurricane Ida and other storms

U.S. Congresswomen Grace Meng and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, announced on Jan. 7 that President Joe Biden has signed their legislation into law to address severe flooding in Queens.

The measure aims to mitigate future disasters like those caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021, which inundated the borough with record-shattering rainfall.

Op-ed | New York’s ground lease co-ops: Our families can’t wait any longer 

Jan. 14, 2025 By Michael Tang 

Last December brought a long-awaited victory for New York City. Our City Council adopted the historic City of Yes housing plan, paving the way for more than 80,000 new homes by 2040 with the promise of affordability. As a longtime resident of Flushing, Queens, I naturally welcomed the news – it’s a much-needed reprieve for New Yorkers as housing costs continue to soar in the midst of an unparalleled housing crisis. But entering 2025 on the heels of this win, we residents at  Murray Hill Cooperative remain at risk — our lives are virtually unchanged because we belong to the last class of unprotected “tenants” as ground lease co-op residents. Without legislative action, more than 25,000 New Yorkers face the threat of losing their homes — homes that we own — to landowners seeking to raise our ground rent to astronomical rates.