NYC To Install PPE Vending Machines In Subway System

New personal protection equipment (PPE) vending machines will be installed across the New York City subway system, reported CBS New York. 

About a dozen of these machines will be placed within ten subway stations along various routes. Each machine will dispense gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. This will make it easier for subway passengers to access PPE products while mobile – and fewer excuses why they aren’t wearing a mask. 

“The national increase in COVID-19 cases shows how important it is for us to maintain vigilance on use of masks and other PPE,” said Sarah Feinberg, Interim President of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit. 

“We want to make it as easy as possible for customers who may not have masks to get them so they can ride the subway. Wearing a mask is the single most important thing our customers can do to protect themselves and those around them — and more than that, it’s absolutely required to ride the system,” said Feinberg. 

The new machines are part of a pilot program for a much wider release later this year. Canteen, a food services company, will install the first dozen. 

Here are the locations of the first machines: 

• 14 St-Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
• 34 St-Herald Square (two machines) (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W)
• 34 St-Penn Station (1, 2, 3, A, B, C)
• 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E)
• 42 St-Times Square (two machines) (1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W)
• 59 St-Columbus Circle (1, A, B, C, D)
• 74 St-Roosevelt Av (7, E, F, M, R)
• Atlantic Av-Barclays Center (2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R)
• Lexington Av (E, M)

CBS New York said there would be two different style machines dishing out PPE products, one by  Canteen and another by Vengo.

As far as items carried and pricing, here’s the complete list: 

• 10-pack of disposable masks for $12.49
• Reusable cloth masks, $5.99
• KN95 masks $9.99
• Wipes $2.25
• Single-use hand sanitizer 75 cents
• 2-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer $4.99
• Kits including a mask, wipes, and gloves are $6.49

While PPE vending machines in New York City are some of the first in the country – we recently noted how the first all-PPE brick and mortar store opened in Maryland last month.