Electrostatic cleaned black taxis offer a safe getaway for BRIT Awards attendees
BRIT Awards attendees are being offered a clean getaway in fully sanitised electrostatically cleaned black cabs on the night of the awards ceremony at the O2.
Artists, audience members, including 2,500 key workers, and VIPs coming to the BRIT Awards at the O2 on Tuesday 11 May can travel home safely in black taxis that have been "electrostatically" cleaned to hospital standards, with a coronavirus-killing solution.
Iconic black taxis will be sprayed on site by electrostatic cleaning specialists iPurus Limited, giving peace of mind to the 4,000 people expected at the UK's biggest music awards ceremony.
The 2021 BRIT Awards is going ahead with a live audience as the latest event as part of the Government’s Events Research Programme, which looks at how venues can restart large events and welcome crowds back safely this summer.
A team of cleaning specialists from iPurus will be sanitising vehicles outside the O2 arena using Electrostatic spraying of hospital-grade solution that impart an electrostatic charge to the solution, ensuring every surface is fully protected.
The taxis will be cleaned during the event from 8pm and waiting at the North Greenwich station taxi rank close to The O2 to transport attendees home safely following the event, which ends at 10.30pm.
Ian Griffiths from iPurus said: “iPurus are delighted to be involved in the first major London test event to take place, providing a covid-secure, safe mode of onward travel for attendees of the BRIT Awards.”
The iPurus electrostatic clean is taking place thanks to sponsorship from the O2, ComCab - one of the largest fleets of black cabs in London, Taxi Marshal Events and the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association – a trade body dedicated to ensuring the safety of the black cab driver's livelihood.
Natasha Nicolaou, Marketing Manager of ComCab, said: “Passengers making a journey in a ComCab black taxi can rest assured that they are travelling safely and securely. Our vehicles are maintained with regular electrostatic cleans, which kill 99.9% of bacterial and fungal infections and viruses. Furthermore, the fixed partition within the purpose built, iconic black taxi ensures that there is little to no contact between the driver and passenger, with separate air flows.”
Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: “It’s great to see trial events like this one going ahead. As life gradually returns to hospitality and entertainment venues and bigger events such as this become possible, London’s black cabs are ideally placed to provide a safe and reliable form of transport for attendees and to get London moving again safely.
“Our drivers are also taking a range of extra precautions to keep passengers safe, including having their vehicles professionally cleaned by companies like iPurus, wearing face masks and providing hand sanitiser – all making black cabs one of the safest ways to travel during the pandemic.”
Audience members at the BRIT Awards will not have to socially distance or wear face coverings once seated in the arena, however they will be required to follow existing government guidance when travelling to and from the venue and adhere to rules set out by the event organisers.
The BRIT Awards 2021 will be the first live music show at The O2 in over a year, and will play an important role in paving the way for the return of live music in the UK.
2,500 tickets for the event were gifted via ballot to frontline workers to say thank you for all they have done over the last year.
