Seattle TSA Officer Tests Positive for COVID-19

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has notified officials that a security officer at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) tested positive for COVID-19.  

The officer last worked the morning shift at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Saturday, March 21 at Checkpoint 5. According to SEA, Checkpoint 5 is currently being closed for additional cleaning.

A dozen other airports, including Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) on the west coast, have had TSOs test positive for COVID-19. A list and map of the positive tests can be viewed on this TSA webpage. 

TSA follows public health guidance to notify employees who were in close contact with the security officer.  

Employees or travelers who believe they may have been in contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should consult with their healthcare provider. 

Current TSA instructions require frontline personnel to wear nitrile gloves when screening an individual or their property. Any swabs utilized as part of a screening procedure (checkpoint and checked baggage) will not be reused for multiple passengers. 

According to the TSA, they have authorized frontline personnel whose security screening tasks require them to routinely come into close contact with the traveling public to wear surgical masks if they choose to do so. Those masks are made available to TSA employees.