Coronavirus NSW: Prestons sanitisation station fast-tracked as cases rise
The first sanitisation station in Sydney’s southwest will open from Wednesday, offering free cleaning services for taxis, rideshare and hire vehicles as NSW battles multiple coronavirus outbreaks. SEE THE DETAILS.
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Taxis and rideshare vehicles will be offered free cleaning services with the State Government fast-tracking a new sanitisation station in Sydney’s southwest as NSW grapples with multiple COVID-19 outbreaks.
The facility at TAXITECH Prestons on Weld St will open on Wednesday and is the fourth sanitisation station to launch in NSW alongside others in Alexandria, Dubbo and Albury.
As Sydney’s southwest battles a recent surge in coronavirus cases, the program has been introduced to provide cleaner and safer point-to-point transport services for passengers and drivers in the region.
NSW Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing said drivers were already embracing the service in Alexandria.
“I cannot stress how important the safety of drivers and passengers is at this time and that is why we encourage all point to point transport vehicles to make use of the free sanitisation stations in operation,” he said.
All taxis, rideshare and hire vehicles, and community transport vehicles are eligible for one clean per vehicle each day under the Australian-first initiative.
As part of the service, high-touch areas inside and outside of the vehicle such as window controls, mobile phone holders, seats, seatbelts and door handles will be disinfected.
“As restrictions lift and more people are travelling on NSW roads, I want passengers who use these services, to do so with the reassurance they need during the COVID-19,” Mr Wing said.
Operators are also being encouraged to carry out spot cleaning in between visits to the sanitisation station.
“We are calling all drivers of taxis, rideshare and hire vehicles to do their part in keeping themselves safe and continue to support the needs of our passengers in a safe and sanitised environment.”
Twenty new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, all of which have been linked to existing clusters.
Three have been linked to the Crossroads Hotel, eight to the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park and four with the Bateman’s Bay Soldiers Club.
Four were overseas travellers and one was infected while in Victoria.
NSW Health confirmed 48 cases have now been linked to the Crossroads cluster, which began when an infected person travelled from Melbourne and attended the venue on July 3.
A number of restaurants, stores, pubs and gyms in Sydney’s southwest have since closed temporarily for cleaning after being visited by cases while they were infectious.