APRIL 29, 2020
A man and woman wearing masks are in an empty line at an airport in Singapore. – Getty Images
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said Wednesday that 500 employees who work in U.S. airports have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Of the workers who have tested positive for the respiratory disease, 208 have experienced a full recovery and four have died. The figures do not account for TSA employees who have limited interaction with the public.
Most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases include staff employed at airports in the New York metropolitan area, according to data provided by the agency. At John F. Kennedy International airport, 105 employees have tested positive for the virus, while 56 workers at Newark Liberty International have contracted the disease.
Thirty-two TSA employees at the LaGuardia Airport have also tested positive for the virus. Outside of New York, the highest number of confirmed cases among TSA staff is at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International airport, where 27 TSA workers have tested positive.
TSA has made a number of adjustments at airport screening areas amid the outbreak, including regular cleaning and disinfecting its facilities. The agency said that it is also issuing N95 respirator masks and eye protection to employees.
TSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest infection data from The Hill.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus upended air travel around the world, leading to a dramatic reduction in domestic and international flights. Airports continue to operate at reduced capacity.
Courtesy/Source: The Hill
