The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has recorded a worrying surge in Covid-19 infections among screening officers which it can trace back to the busy Thanksgiving holiday period two weeks ago.
There is a 38% increase in positive cases among staff since Thanksgiving Day with new cases recorded at nearly 100 airports across the country.
Currently there are 830 TSA employees positive and nearly 4,000 have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic.
A total of 10 TSA workers have died from the virus.
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, health officials said the busy travel period would lead to a big spike in infections.
Some airports have been harder hit than others.
The number of TSA officers testing positive at Philadelphia International Airport has tripled in the past month.
"We’re facing extremely low morale, because they feel leadership doesn’t care or value their life. I hear officers express the fear of catching Covid," Lashanda Palmer, executive vice president of the AFGE Local 333 union told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Confirmed cases have spiked 55% at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport since late November.
Most cases are TSA officers in customer-facing roles screening passengers.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
