ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last March, more than 10,000 employee cases of COVID-19 have been reported by the Transportation Security Administration, according to the government agency. If you're looking to avoid some of the airports with the most cases, here's the top-10 list:
Miami International Airport (MIA): 513
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 452
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City: 440
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL): 370
Orlando International Airport (MCO): 356
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 355
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): 341
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW): 333
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): 279
McCarran International/Las Vegas Airport (LAS): 257
As of Friday, the total number of cases had climbed to 10,243, said an agency representative. Here are the numbers for some nearby airports:
St. Louis Lambert International(STL): 67
Scott AFB/MidAmerica (BLV): 11
Springfield-Branson National (SGF): 15
Kansas City International (MIC): 39
General Downing - Peoria International (PIA): 8
Cape Girardeau Regional (CGI): 2
The TSA has listed every U.S. airport where an infected employee was stationed on its website, including whether they worked in a screening or non-screening capacity as well as the dates of the most recent infection at each airport.
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So far, the TSA has only recorded 27 deaths related to the cases, not counting two found among screening contractors. Most who have been infected have already recovered and as of Friday, 515 employees were still struggling with an active infection.
“The 27th employee to pass away following a COVID-19 illness, he will be fondly remembered for his dedication to the transportation security mission and greatly missed by his colleagues,” the agency wrote of Robert Logan, Jr., a Transportation Security Officer at Boise Air Terminal (BOI) in Idaho. Logan passed away Thursday.
Employees with active infections are placed on paid administrative leave while they recover, according to TSA policy.
Along with other federal agencies, all TSA employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than Nov. 22. President Joe Biden made vaccination a requirement for federal employees via an executive order this month.
“TSA continues to urge all employees to get vaccinated and follow CDC guidance, including face mask recommendations,” said the agency in its statement about Logan’s passing.
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