New MTA air purification system kills 99.9998% of all germs including COVID

COVID-19 News and Information

ByDiana Rocco WABC logo
Friday, October 16, 2020
MTA air filtration system kills 99.9998% of germs, COVID
Diana Rocco has a first look at the new air filtration system that will be added to MTA trains to kill COVID.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Air purification systems are coming to Metro North trains.



Peak commuting hours at Grand Central and the rush to trains isn't what it used to be.



Social distancing signs are up and Metro North says riders are coming back -- just not fast enough.



RELATED | MTA brings back Turnstyle Underground Market, proposes financial relief to tenants


Lauren Glassberg has more on the MTA's reopening of underground markets in the Columbus Circle subway station.

Metro North ridership during the height of the pandemic was down 95% after Labor Day.



That number decreased to 77%, which means that less than a third of the nearly 300,000 riders a day, 86 million per year before COVID-19, have returned.



This comes despite new and improved measures like a pilot program introducing a one-of-its-kind filtration system that kills all germs and viruses.



This filtration system has three parts and cycles air through the cabin every three minutes, and they say it will not only kill COVID-19, but also the flu and common cold long after the pandemic has come and gone.



Right now, it's being tested in two Metro North train cars, but after the first of the year, the program will eventually expand to all Metro North trains costing more than $10 million.



After that, the subways and the Long Island Railroad.



MORE NEWS | How New York City will keep outdoor diners warm this winter


Lauren Glassberg reports on outdoor dining in NYC from Hell's Kitchen.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE


How coronavirus changed the New York region


Do you have coronavirus symptoms?


New York, New Jersey, Connecticut out-of-state travelers quarantine list


COVID-19 Help, Information. Stimulus and Business Updates



UPDATES


New York City



New Jersey


Long Island


Westchester and Hudson Valley


Connecticut



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus





Submit a News Tip


Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.