Transportation

On Aug. 1, over 2.2 million passengers passed through airport security checkpoints, the largest number dating back to March 2020. It was only on June 11 when airport security checkpoints screened 2 million passengers for the first time since early 2020. In contrast, on Aug. 31, under 1.4 million passengers were screened, the lowest number since May 11.

Why take a COVID-19 vaccine? The best reason is it contributes to population risk reduction.   

URBANA, Illinois -- With the COVID-19 delta variant spreading and air travel surging, a perfect public health storm is brewing at airport security checkpoints. Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) assessed whether the U.S. Transportation Security Administration was taking the necessary actions to reduce the spread of infections amongst transportation security officers (TSOs) and air travelers at airport security checkpoints. Given the recent virus transmission risk and uncertainty, their recommendations were woefully inadequate and missed the mark to make substantive changes that could have a lasting impact on public health and the safety of air travelers.

These digital documents promise to provide their owner with unfettered access to everything travel offers, much like the old normal many of us yearn for. Sounds good in theory, but there's a catch. Actually, several of them.

U of I Professor Sheldon Jacobson joins Anna to talk about an op-ed he wrote that looks at the science behind blocking middle seats on airplanes. Does blocking middle seats actually keep people safe?

New research suggests different models of airplane seating can minimize the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission while also maximizing the number of passengers.

CHICAGO - New research could make air travel safer during the pandemic, as the number of people hitting the skies keeps climbing.

We welcome the new year with nearly 22 million confirmed covid-19 cases and 365,000 deaths. The U.S. leads the world in total confirmed cases and deaths, while also ranking second in confirmed cases per capita and seventh in deaths per capita (for countries with a population over 10 million). The impact of covid-19 on our nation has not only been significant in absolute terms, but also significant relative to other countries. Even amid the covid-19 threat, air travel has grown steadily since the summer. In December 2020, over 26 million passengers were screened, slightly more than in November, and the highest monthly total since February 2020 before covid-19 reduced air travel.

More than 7,000 cases were reported in Arizona today alone and as COVID-19 cases rise, so does the number of travelers at airports. This weekend alone TSA screened more than 3 million passengers, nationwide despite the alarming surge in cases. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Tucson Air Traffic Control towers are periodically closing due to staff members testing positive for COVID-19. Researchers believe airport screenings could be where the virus is spreading. “Security checkpoints are a small footprint of the large number of people congregating. It becomes a COVID-19 warzone,” said Sheldon Jacobson, a computer science professor at the University of Illinois.

The TSA has sped up technology deployments since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic as it moves to reduce literal touch points at airport screening stations. The effort has been undertaken to benefit the traveling public but also TSA staffers themselves. As of Dec. 15, 11 TSA agents have died of Covid-19. The technology deployments have centered around 3-D screening systems and automated ID authentication. The former diminishes the likelihood that passenger carry-on bags will have to be manually checked, the agency said, which in turn reduces interactions between agents and flyers.