Santa Clara County Responds To TSA Agents Testing For Coronavirus

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — The Transportation Security Administration announced late Tuesday that three TSA officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport have tested positive for novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The TSA in a written statement said that "the officers are receiving medical care and all TSA employees they have come into contact with over the past 14 days are quarantined at home."

The TSA, airport officials and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department have not said what interactions the officers may have had with the general public, but a county spokesperson said in an email that the risk of transmitting the virus in brief interactions is low.

"The risk of transmission is extremely low for individuals who aren't in close proximity for an extended period of time.

The Public Health Department is following up on cases with close contacts," the spokesperson said.

"Risk would be higher when sitting in close proximity to a person for multiple hours versus quick contact passing by an individual in a mall."

Nevertheless, after Mineta San Jose International Airport's Twitter account confirmed the TSA officers' positive tests Tuesday night, many of the responses to the airport's tweet showed concern about where the virus may have spread.

"I literally just got back home last night, flew out last Friday. Can we get info on when they were on duty?" one person wrote. "I'm living with a 90+ year old elder, this is very vital information for me.

"The TSA said it is cooperating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and "will update as more information becomes available."

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