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12 Orlando airport TSA workers have tested positive for COVID-19

Employee last worked on March 13

The area for TSA screening of travelers at JFK airport's Terminal 1 is relatively empty, Friday, March 13, 2020, in New York. The coronavirus outbreak is hitting the airline industry hard. President Trump banned most Europeans from entering the United States for 30 days to try to slow down the spread of the spread of the virus. The new travel ban is likely to further roil the airline industry as bookings decline and people cancel reservations out of fear they might contract the virus. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (Kathy Willens, Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Another Orlando International Airport TSA agent has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total up to 12.

A TSA representative said Monday that the employee had not worked since March 13 but did not provide any information on which terminal the employee worked at or the time of the agent’s last shift.

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The information is also not available on the TSA’s coronavirus map, which is regularly updated to remove cases that are more than 14 days old.

[RELATED: 10th Orlando airport TSA agent tests positive for COVID-19 | Fifth Orlando International Airport TSA officer tests positive for coronavirus]

At least six of the other Orlando TSA agents who have fallen ill worked at the West Checkpoint while another two worked at the East Checkpoint. Details for the other sick employees were not immediately available.

Dr. Raul Pino from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County recently said researchers are trying to determine whether the TSA unit at the Orlando airport is considered a cluster for coronavirus cases.

Reps. Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto on Monday said they asked TSA to update its policies to require agents to wear face masks and other personal protective equipment.

“TSA officers are deeply-valued members of our community, with families of their own, and they deserve to be protected,” the Florida politicians wrote on a letter to TSA’s administrator. “To date, TSA officers are authorized, but not required, to use masks and respirators to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus. Although we understand PPE is in short supply, we respectfully ask you to update protocol to require that TSA officers use masks when working at checkpoints, especially at large hub airports that move passengers traveling from COVID-19 epicenters.”

More than 20,000 people have been diagnosed with the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus as of Monday morning.

To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.


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