Coronavirus: New York transit vows to sanitise trains and buses every three days

Two cases of the virus are confirmed in the state

New York transit has vowed to sanitise all trains and buses every three days to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) revealed it would be stepping up how it sanitises public transport areas in the coming days after two cases of the coronavirus are confirmed in New York state.

Its plan includes MTA employees disinfecting subway turnstiles, station handrails, ticket machines, and other frequently used parts of the transport daily, Transport Workers Union president Tony Utano told NBC New York.

All the subway cars and buses will then undergo deep cleaning every three days.

"While there has been only one confirmed case of coronavirus in New York and it did not involve the mass transit system, we are committed to doing everything we can to keep in front of the situation and protect our customers and employees," said MTA Chairman and CEO Pat Foye

The heightened cleaning measures will include the 472 subway stations, 21 Staten Island Railway stations, 124 Long Island Rail stations and terminals, and more than 100 Metro-North stations, according to the MTA.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo first announced on Sunday that extra cleaning measures would be put in place.

This decision came after the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed with a Manhattan woman, 39, testing positive after returning from Iran. She is now quarantined in her apartment.

The second coronavirus case in New York state was then confirmed on Tuesday morning.

New York transit will now sanitise trains and buses every three days to combat the spread of the coronavirus (Getty Images)

A Westchester man tested positive after being hospitalised for an "underlying respiratory disease". He did not travel to any of the countries of concern before getting the virus.

Mr Cuomo also signed a bill on Monday evening giving $40m in funding to the Health Department in its efforts to take precautionary measures against the coronavirus.

In total, 117 cases of the coronavirus and nine deaths, all in Washington state, have been confirmed in the US. The numbers also continue to rise globally with more than 92,870 confirmed cases and over 3,160 deaths.