As coronavirus cases continue to rise, Bellingham airport steps up prevention effort
Local airports are getting additional attention in response to the statewide rise of coronavirus cases.
After cases were first reported in British Columbia and Seattle, Bellingham International Airport increased the number of times it cleans common areas like water fountains and fill stations, said Sunil Harman, director of aviation for the Port of Bellingham.
The airport has also added more hand sanitizer stations and increased inspections, he said in an email.
This coincides with the additional steps being taken at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which includes more cleaning of “high touch” areas, particularly at international gates. It has also provided 45 additional hand sanitizer stations. The Sea-Tac airport has also updated cleaning protocols for shuttle buses and rental areas.
Although traffic is down in recent years, March is traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for the Bellingham airport as people head out for spring break vacations.
Even before the coronavirus outbreak, also known as COVID-19, the Bellingham airport maintained a Service A rating based on the Airport Service Quality standard, according to Harman. That included cleaning restrooms and frequently touched areas three times a day with commercial disinfectants.
Port and contracted janitorial staff are also monitoring guidance from local, state and federal agencies and are prepared to implement additional steps to deal with the coronavirus as required, Harman said.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 11:36 AM.
