TSA to begin checking passengers’ temperatures at several airports: report

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin checking passengers’ temperatures at around a dozen airports in the coming days as concerns grow over air travel during the coronavirus pandemic.

People familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that the details of the plan are still being fleshed out, and it is as of yet unclear which airports will adopt the new scanning procedures. A government official told The Journal that the rollout of the proposal will cost under $20 million.

Airlines have been pushing for the government to adopt greater safety measures to reassure passengers who have grown jittery about flying. Demand for air travel has plummeted over 90 percent amid transportation restrictions. 

Sources familiar with the matter told The Journal there have been concerns over the TSA’s taking responsibility for the screening, with some saying the measures do not fall within its security mandate. 

The TSA told The Hill it does not have any additional information “at this time.” 

The scanners are expected to be a mix of tripods that can scan a number of people at one time as well as handheld devices. Those with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will be flagged.

An administration official told The Journal that a pilot program for temperature checks was run at Washington Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C. in April. 

However, airport and airline officials have expressed concern over what to do with passengers who are flagged. An administration official told The Journal that they will be turned over to officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).