The TSA on Friday examined 1,580,785 people at U.S. airports, a record high since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Why does it matter: The figures come a day after the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, said that although the agency now says fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk, the CDC still does not recommend non-essential travel due to rising virus cases. NPR.
The whole picture: The TSA has reported more than 1 million daily screened passengers since March 11.
- Mark Howell, a TSA spokesman, told Axios that the increase was due to the spring break.
Yes but: “It’s too early to tell if the trip is back. After all, TSA screening numbers are still pale compared to pre-pandemic passenger levels,” CBS News writes.
What are they saying: The agency is preparing for an increase in travel in the summer months, Howell told Axios.
- The TSA said in February that it plans to hire 6,000 new officers by this summer.
- While the agency expects a potential increase in travel, I don’t know if summer numbers will reach pre-pandemic levels.