12 tips to lessen the chances of getting sick while riding trains, subways, and buses in the age of coronavirus, according to experts

The coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China, has infected over 92,000 people and killed more than 3,100.
While 87% of the cases have been reported in China, nine people in the US have died because of COVID-19.
We spoke to six experts for tips and tricks people can use to stay safe while taking public transportation.
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Several public transportation agencies across the country are now taking steps to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus and subdue public fears of catching it.

For example, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that its trains, cars, and buses will be sanitized every 72 hours, and frequently touched surfaces in stations will be disinfected daily. San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit system will also be undergoing a similar procedure by disinfecting commonly used surfaces in its stations and wiping down handrails and stanchions at multiple stops.

There are currently two reported cases of coronavirus in New York, and San Francisco's mayor has already declared a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19.

"Be vigilant, but not anxious," infectious disease specialist Avisheh Forouzesh who owns Advanced Infectious Disease Medical in New Jersey, told Business Insider in an interview. "The key is not to panic because we can't live in a bubble."

"I don't think people should entirely avoid public transportation," Forouzesh continued.

However, there are still different tips and tricks people can take to ensure that they don't put themselves at any potential risk while taking public transit. For example, emerging and reemerging viral diseases expert Thomas Ksiazek at the University of Texas Medical Branch Health told Business Insider that hand sanitation is one of the most important ways to stay safe.

Keep scrolling to see what experts said, including advice from professor of infectious diseases and medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Bernard Camins and professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University Amira Roess.

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