Coronavirus US Update: TSA Officers May Have Spread COVID-19 At Mineta San Jose Airport

The hysteria, that some believe to be overblown over COVID-19, has moved beyond the cancellation of flights. Two of the three Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working at the Mineta San Jose International Airport in California have tested positive for COVID-19. The concern is that routine luggage checks and pat-downs have abetted the highly contagious coronavirus. COVID-19 is now classified as a global pandemic.

Traffic was lighter than normal on Wednesday afternoon as a group of Santa Clara County elected officials, including San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, called on the TSA to divulge more information as to the whereabouts of the infected agents during their shifts.

According to AFGE Local 1230, the union that represents airport security screeners, the two infected officers worked at the security checkpoint inside Terminal B, which is primarily serviced by Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Mayor Liccardo, who was scheduled to speak at a joint press conference on Thursday, said, "We're deep cleaning with wiping multiple times a shift, all surfaces and bathrooms to ensure that we're protecting all of the travelers that come through the airport.”

According to union President James Mudrock, at least 42 employees were told to self-quarantine. He said, "I would hope that we would be able to keep everything open and maintain the passenger flow, but if it gets worse, there's no telling. Our officers are committed to what they do, that we are taking every precaution that we are able to, and we appreciate the traveling public also taking precautions.”

Mudrock added that all the quarantined employees were on paid administrative leave and he lauded the efforts of local TSA leaders in San Jose.

On Tuesday evening TSA issued a statement that said, "Screening checkpoints remain open and the agency is working with the CDC, as well as the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to monitor the situation as well as the health and safety of our employees and the traveling public.”

In what may be an attempt to convince the public that the quarantines are just a precautionary move, the mayor’s office offered up a description of the TSA standard operating procedures for frontline personnel. They include wearing nitrile gloves when screening an individual and changing them after contact with any passenger or their personal property.

TSA has authorized "frontline personnel" interacting with the public "to wear surgical masks if they choose to do so” indicating that the masks were not mandatory at this stage. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department responded that the risk of contracting coronavirus is low during brief interactions.