A device which uses ultraviolet light to sanitise moving handrails has been fitted to all 36 escalators on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
It will see handrails continuously cleaned while the escalator is in motion.
Customer Services Director at Nexus Huw Lewis said: “It’s vital because the handrails are some of the most high-touch surfaces on our network.
“We already have a rigorous cleaning regime across all of our stations and trains, but are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that the transport network is clean and Covid-secure."
Measures include additional cleaning, contactless payment, social distancing signs and hand sanitiser points.
The UV equipment has already been rolled out across the Tube network by Transport for London.
Surge testing is under way in the TS19 postcode area of Stockton after the South African variant of coronavirus was identified in the area.
The case was reported a week ago and has not been linked to international travel, so people without symptoms are being urged to be tested at one of four sites.
Director of Public Health for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Sarah Bowman-Abouna said: "The reason we are concerned about this is not because there's any evidence that the South African variant is more dangerous as it were in terms of death and serious health, but because it is more infectious.
"Please come forward for testing, it's really important we try and pick up any further cases of this in the local community."
Government move 'must not bring Treasury tourists'
The relocation of 750 government jobs must not see hundreds of "Treasury tourists" use the North East as a part-time base, a business expert has warned.
The Chancellor's Budget announcement that the Treasury would launch a Northern campus in Darlington was "hugely exciting", Dr Joanna Berry, of Durham University Business School, said.
However, she told the BBC's Breakfast programme the project must bring long-term benefits to the area.
"We absolutely welcome the idea with open arms [but] 750 Treasury tourists coming up for three or four days a week and then going down to the South again would not go down well.
"We will be watching and very much hope to welcome the entire Treasury community up here as part of the North East, not as visitors."
The chancellor had been approached by civic leaders from across the North, with Bradford, Leeds and Newcastle also thought to have been in the running for the move.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been on Teesside this morning and explained how the area was chosen for freeport status in Wednesday's Budget.
He told the BBC's Breakfast programme he had taken a "range of criteria" into account.
"We thought about an area's unemployment rate and we looked at the deliverability of the bid so you've seen eight regions benefit from freeports.
"We want to get money to as many places where we want to level-up opportunity."
Freeports are usually located around shipping ports, or airports and goods that arrive into from abroad aren't subject to the tax charges, called tariffs, that are normally paid to the government.
Video caption: The brutal reality of Premier League academies: Deese Kasinga’s storyThe brutal reality of Premier League academies: Deese Kasinga’s story
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Metro escalators to be sanitised with UV light
A device which uses ultraviolet light to sanitise moving handrails has been fitted to all 36 escalators on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
It will see handrails continuously cleaned while the escalator is in motion.
Customer Services Director at Nexus Huw Lewis said: “It’s vital because the handrails are some of the most high-touch surfaces on our network.
“We already have a rigorous cleaning regime across all of our stations and trains, but are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that the transport network is clean and Covid-secure."
Measures include additional cleaning, contactless payment, social distancing signs and hand sanitiser points.
The UV equipment has already been rolled out across the Tube network by Transport for London.
Tall Ships set for Teesside return
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Read more'Please come forward for testing' plea
Surge testing is under way in the TS19 postcode area of Stockton after the South African variant of coronavirus was identified in the area.
The case was reported a week ago and has not been linked to international travel, so people without symptoms are being urged to be tested at one of four sites.
Director of Public Health for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Sarah Bowman-Abouna said: "The reason we are concerned about this is not because there's any evidence that the South African variant is more dangerous as it were in terms of death and serious health, but because it is more infectious.
"Please come forward for testing, it's really important we try and pick up any further cases of this in the local community."
Details of the four testing sites and how to book a test can be found on Stockton-on-Tees council website
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Read moreGovernment move 'must not bring Treasury tourists'
The relocation of 750 government jobs must not see hundreds of "Treasury tourists" use the North East as a part-time base, a business expert has warned.
The Chancellor's Budget announcement that the Treasury would launch a Northern campus in Darlington was "hugely exciting", Dr Joanna Berry, of Durham University Business School, said.
However, she told the BBC's Breakfast programme the project must bring long-term benefits to the area.
"We absolutely welcome the idea with open arms [but] 750 Treasury tourists coming up for three or four days a week and then going down to the South again would not go down well.
"We will be watching and very much hope to welcome the entire Treasury community up here as part of the North East, not as visitors."
The chancellor had been approached by civic leaders from across the North, with Bradford, Leeds and Newcastle also thought to have been in the running for the move.
Election counts will need 'special arrangements'
Restrictions in place for coronavirus will impact on the counts, Redcar councillors are told.
Read moreBoss Warnock extends Middlesbrough deal
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock signs a contract extension until the end of the 2021-22 season.
Read moreChancellor explains Teesside freeport decision
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been on Teesside this morning and explained how the area was chosen for freeport status in Wednesday's Budget.
He told the BBC's Breakfast programme he had taken a "range of criteria" into account.
"We thought about an area's unemployment rate and we looked at the deliverability of the bid so you've seen eight regions benefit from freeports.
"We want to get money to as many places where we want to level-up opportunity."
Freeports are usually located around shipping ports, or airports and goods that arrive into from abroad aren't subject to the tax charges, called tariffs, that are normally paid to the government.
You can read more about them by clicking here.
What happens when the Premier League dream ends?
By Miriam Walker-Khan
BBC Sport
Only 180 of the 1.5 million youth football players in England will make it to the Premier League. So what happens to the rest?
Read moreChancellor announces £1bn for 45 areas of England
The list of places in England receiving funds is dominated by the north west, Yorkshire and Midlands.
Read moreTwenty arrests in drug-trafficking raids
Police raid 18 properties in Reading and seven across Blackburn, Sunderland, Birmingham and London.
Read moreListen: Leicester Tigers v London Irish & Sale v Newcastle Falcons
Listen to BBC radio commentary as Leicester Tigers host London Irish and Newcastle Falcons travel to Sale in the Gallagher Premiership.
Catch upThe brutal reality of Premier League academies: Deese Kasinga’s story
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