A small group of Transportation Security Administration employees working at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in California tested positive for COVID-19.
The TSA confirmed on Tuesday that three employees who work as security screeners tested positive for the coronavirus. TSA Union officials reported the three infected employees would have come into contact with thousands of travelers. The union also noted that at least 40 employees had been placed in self-quarantine after coming into contact with the infected employees.
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“Just by the nature of the job, transportation security officers are in a vulnerable position in the case of an outbreak like this,” said James Mudrock, president of the local security screener union.
While many employees have been sidelined by a potential infection, the TSA maintained the airport’s security measures would remain uninterrupted.
“Screening checkpoints remain open and the agency is working with the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], 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. We will update as more information becomes available,” the agency said in a statement.
Santa Clara County has 45 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including one death. The country as a whole has more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 30 deaths.
