Taxis wait in line for the drivers to get masks and for the cars to be disinfected, in Harbin on March 2. [Photo/MY399.com]
 
To provide safe operating conditions for taxi drivers --  always on the front line of transportation -- and to create a safe riding environment for passengers, Harbin city is allocating 13,000 face masks to the drivers during the novel coronavirus epidemic prevention and control period, local officials said.
 
From March 2, the Harbin municipal taxi management office has been successively distributing the masks — the majority of the 13,000 are heavy duty N95 masks— through the city’s 11 taxi disinfection points.
 
On March 2 alone, a total of 1,100 masks were sent to  taxi drivers in Harbin, in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.
 
A staff member at Harbin’s taxi disinfection point disinfects a taxi on March 2.  [Photo/MY399.com]
 
Officials said the disinfection points are playing an important role in helping with virus prevention and control in Harbin’s transportation industry.
 
The Longyun Xiandai disinfection point, for example, was set up on Jan 24 and as of March 1, a total of 8,155 taxis, seven private cars and one ride-sharing car were sterilized at the point.
 
Meanwhile, it also issued other medical supplies -- including 19,905 masks, 7,814 pairs of gloves, 3,601 kg of alcohol and 220 kg of disinfectant. 

 
An employee at Harbin’s taxi disinfection point distributes masks for taxi drivers. [Photo/MY399.com]
   
A Taxi driver receives a body temperature check at Harbin’s taxi disinfection point on March 2. [Photo/MY399.com]