The US Transportation Security Administration has a problem.
According to the agency's website, nearly 475 employees have tested positive for the COVID-19 illness associated with the novel coronavirus as of April 22, with less than 100 recovering so far. High-trafficked airports in major cities have seen the most cases among the federal officers, especially in regions where outbreaks have occurred.
At the same time, however, the TSA is also reporting that passenger numbers are at their lowest points in years as more and more would-be travelers are choosing to stay at home, leaving the nation's airports largely empty. So far, the lowest traffic day, April 14 saw the total numbers of passengers passing through checkpoints drop to 87,534, down around 15,000 from the day prior and over 2,121,000 from the same day in 2019.
Airlines have largely cut their daily flight schedules in response to the virus' decimation of the travel industry but provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act have required airlines that are receiving aid to continue flying certain flights to maintain national connectivity. Non-essential leisure travel, however, has largely ceased thanks to mandatory quarantines and stay at home orders.
Take a look at which airports have been affected most by the deadly virus that has taken the lives of four TSA employees.
Read the original article on Business Insider