TSA Officer at SEA Tests Positive for COVID-19

 Update on the Port's COVID-19 response Learn More. 

March 24, 2020

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) notified us today 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. Checkpoint 5 is currently being closed for additional cleaning.  

A dozen other airports have had TSOs test positive for COVID-19.  You can find all the positive tests at this informative website. 

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, which adds an additional layer of protection. Any swabs utilized as part of a screening procedure (checkpoint and checked baggage) will not be reused for multiple passengers. 

TSA has 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.