| TravelPulse

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) introduced it screened roughly 324 million passengers in 2020, a decline of round 39 p.c from the earlier yr.

To assist handle the continuing coronavirus outbreak, the TSA modified safety checkpoint procedures at greater than 440 federalized airports nationwide to cut back bodily contact and assist shield employees and passengers.

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TSA officers mentioned 6,873 acrylic barriers had been put in at 384 airports and one other 927 CAT models had been added to 125 places. The CAT course of permits passengers to scan their very own ID and eradicate the necessity to hand the credential to a safety officer.

As well as, the TSA requires all officers to wear face masks and gloves whereas on obligation, with face shields additionally obligatory when there isn’t a acrylic barrier in place. The company will proceed to disinfect ceaselessly touched surfaces and encourage social distancing by signage.

“In 2020, TSA carried out vital operational modifications throughout its complete safety checkpoint surroundings as a result of COVID-19 pandemic,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske mentioned. “The pace and diploma of change was unmatched in our 19-year historical past.”

“The flexibleness and agility of the women and men throughout TSA is a testomony to their dedication to our collective transportation safety mission,” Pekoske continued. “Our complete workforce, together with screening officers, canine handlers, inspectors and federal air marshals, continues to do the whole lot attainable to guard our colleagues and airline passengers, and I’m grateful for his or her adaptiveness and resilience.”

As a part of the continuing “Keep Wholesome. Keep Safe.” marketing campaign, a devoted COVID-19 web page is up to date each day to supply data on each day journey quantity, worker infections by airport, journey suggestions and normal updates relating to operations.

Common Winter Holiday travel numbers continued to fluctuate between a low of 24 p.c and a excessive of 61 p.c per day when in comparison with the 2019 numbers. TSA anticipates each day journey totals will proceed to rise steadily and comply with seasonal patterns, however the company expects quantity will stay effectively under pre-pandemic ranges by most of 2021.