The Port Authority is ramping up cleaning efforts at the region’s airports and bus stations in response to the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The agency announced increased facility-wide cleaning and sanitizing protocols on Wednesday, developed in consultation with the New York State Department of Health, New Jersey Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Port Authority will increase facility-wide cleanings of restrooms and surfaces frequently touched by passengers at the region’s airports, at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, at the Oculus World Trade Center Transportation Hub, and in the PATH train system.
All areas will be disinfected on a regular basis using EPA-approved and CDC-endorsed disinfectants.
“Safety and security are the top priority for the Port Authority as we work every day to keep the region moving,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
“In consultation with federal and state health authorities the Port Authority is instituting an enhanced cleaning schedule effective immediately.”
“As part of our commitment to the passengers at our facilities, the agency will increase cleanings in response to the coronavirus,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“Across our facilities we are utilizing EPA-approved, anti-viral cleaning agents to maintain the highest levels of sanitation.”
AIRPORTS
At the international arrivals areas at the region’s airports, the Port Authority has instructed all terminal operators to intensify cleaning protocols.
This effort includes increased cleaning of restrooms using EPA-approved and CDC-endorsed cleaning agents and increased wipe down of frequently touched surfaces.
These surfaces include doors, countertops, handrails on stairs and escalators, elevator cabs and buttons, information kiosks, ticket vending machines, ticket counters, seating areas, charging stations, water fountains, etc.
The Port Authority has also directed terminal operators to deploy additional hand sanitizer units in the areas around federal inspection facilities.
All decisions regarding the screening of international passengers arriving to the United States are made by federal agencies including the CDC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
As it has since January, the Port Authority is providing all necessary support for the screening currently being carried out by the CDC and CBP of passengers at its airports and any ensuing referrals for quarantine in cooperation with state and city health authorities.
(Officials at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport said they’re also working with city and state health leaders to make sure they’re following all the right procedures to keep people safe from the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus. Courtesy of WMUR-TV and YouTube. Posted on Mar 3, 2020.)
BUS TERMINAL, BUS STATION, AND THE OCULUS
At the Port Authority Bus Terminal, George Washington Bridge Bus Station, and the Oculus World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the Port Authority will increase the frequency and intensity of all cleaning routines.
All commonly touched surfaces in the public spaces will be sanitized on a regular basis with an EPA-approved and CDC-endorsed cleaning agent.
This includes surfaces throughout the facilities such as doors, handrails on stairs and escalators, elevator cabs and buttons, information Kiosks, ticket vending machines, ticket counters, seating areas, charging stations, water fountains, etc.
PATH
On PATH, the Port Authority has implemented an enhanced cleaning procedure with an EPA-approved and CDC-endorsed cleaning agent for all PATH cars, stations, and the Journal Square Bus Terminal.
In addition to routinely removing stains, soil and surface dirt, cleaners will be disinfecting commonly touched surfaces including seating, doors, handrails, turnstiles, emergency gates, elevators, information kiosks, SmartLink and MetroCard ticket machines, etc.
(With the spread of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, continuing in the U.S. and abroad, local transportation leaders in the Pittsburgh area said they are preparing for cases here. Courtesy of WPXI-TV News Pittsburgh and YouTube. Posted on Mar 2, 2020.)
The Port Authority has also deployed health guidance PSAs in terminals and stations.
The agency encourages all travelers to make themselves aware of the health and safety protocols established by the CDC.
These include recommendations to:
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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Stay home when you are sick.
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Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
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Individuals who are experiencing symptoms and may have traveled to areas of concern or have been in contact with somebody who has traveled to these areas should call ahead to their healthcare provider before presenting for treatment.
(Hear from the CDC’s Dr. Nancy Messonnier as she answers five frequently asked questions about novel (new) coronavirus. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and YouTube. Posted on Feb 19, 2020.)
Should you have any additional questions or concerns about the coronavirus, please go to the CDC’s website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html or the respective New York and New Jersey state health department websites at https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/ and https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml.
Port Authority Police Recognized in 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police
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Excellence in Public Safety
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The Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), protects and to enforces laws at PANYNJ facilities including airports, seaports, and bridges and tunnels, plus three bus terminals, the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, and the PATH train system.
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The PAPD is the largest transit-related police force in the United States.
(Media Relation’s Rudy King photographs a recent training climb by the ESU up the George Washington Bridge and interviews a member of the elite squad afterward.. Courtesy of New York City Department of Correction and YouTube.)
Enter today to Compete in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland SecurityAwards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
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| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program surpassed expectations with a record number of nominations received from industry leaders and government agencies, and drew over 200 attendees to the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Banquet – an exclusive gourmet luncheon and networking opportunity which filled to capacity, before having to turn away late registrants.
The event featured an impassioned and compelling keynote address by William J. Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) twice, the Boston Police Department (BPD), and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as he walked attendees through 50 years of American policing history, the impacts on the communities, and the evolution of critical communication capabilities in our post 9/11 landscape.
Commissioner Bratton, one of the world’s most respected and trusted experts on risk and security issues and Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk a global advisory firm, was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety.
Why the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- United States Marine Corps
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- United States Postal Inspection Service
- DHS S&T
- United States Marshals Service (USMS)
- The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police (PAPD)
- The Department of Justice (DOJ)
- The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (NYS DHSES)
- United States Border Patrol
- AlertMedia, Ameristar Perimeter Security, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Bellevue University, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., CornellCookson, Drone Aviation, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global, IPVideo Corp., Konica Minolta Business Solutions, LenelS2, ManTech, Regroup Mass Notifications, SafeLogic, SolarWinds, Senstar, ShotSpotter, Smiths Detection, TCOM LP, Trackforce, Verint, and More!
From innovative Military Cyber Programs, to Local, State and Federal Public Safety and Emergency Management Initiatives, New Physical and IT Products and Services, and Security Professional, Threat Assessment, Emergency Preparedness, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Education and Training Opportunities – Join your ‘ASTORS’ Award-Winning Peers and Receive the Recognition You Deserve!
Excellence in Public Safety and Government Security Award Nominations are also being accepted, such as 2019 Honored Winners which includes the DEA, U.S. Marine Corps, DHS S&T, Federal Protective Police, DHS S&T NUSTL, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, The Port Authority of NY/NJ, and the NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services.
Individuals are also encouraged to be nominated for Government Excellence in Public Safety and Homeland Security such as last years widely repected recipients which include: Sheriff Tom Knight, Sarasota County Sheriff (FL); Mr. John F. Clark, CEO of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC); Grant Coffey, Portland Fire & Rescue Hazmat Team Coordinator (Ret), CBRNE Industry Expert, and Director at Tribute to Honor; Drs. Konstantinos Papazoglou and Dr. Daniel M. Blumberg; and Commissioner Bill Bratton, Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk, who was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’.
2019 ‘ASTORS’ EXCELLENCE AND GOVERNMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
John F. Clark, CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
DHS S&T Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Program
Dean C. Alexander, Director, Homeland Security Research Program & Professor at Western Illinois University
United States Postal Inspection Service
DHS S&T National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL)
DHS S&T Office of Mission and Capability Support (Forensic Video Exploitation and Analysis) Tool Suite
Grant Coffey, Portland Fire & Rescue Hazmat Team Coordinator (Ret), CBRNE Industry Expert
United States Marshals Service
Sheriff Tom Knight, Sarasota County Sheriff (FL)
Dr. Sean Lawler
United States Border Patrol, Border Patrol, Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR)
Dr. Konstantinos Papazoglou and Dr. Daniel M. Blumberg, Co Authors of ‘Power: Police Officer Wellness, Ethics, and Resilience’
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipLine
United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps 1700 Cyberspace Operations
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA)
DOJ OPM Federal Risk Management Process Training Program
NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services UAS/Drone Training Program
Ewart Williams, New Jersey City University National Security and Intelligence Adjunct Professor
Stanley I. White, International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals (IACSP)
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please go to the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Championship Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2019 ‘A Year in Review’.
The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually and includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2019 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
For information about advertising opportunities with American Security Today, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
