TSA worker sick with COVID-19 causes airport to shut down screening checkpoint

ATLANTA — If you’re heading to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, you will want to pad in some extra time.

Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that the Main TSA checkpoint was shut down for a deep cleaning after a TSA agent tested positive for COVID-19.

Part of that checkpoint has since reopened and officials hope to have it fully reopened by tomorrow morning.

Travelers caught in the long lines told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson that it took upwards of two hours to get through the screening checkpoint.

Mark Howell with TSA said the check-point screener worked on Tuesday from 3:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and the TSA was notified Wednesday of the positive test.

Howell said the screener did come in contact with the public.

The South checkpoint was already closed because of construction.

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As of Wednesday afternoon, only the International and North checkpoints were open at the airport.

The wait time for the North checkpoint was running around 45-60 minutes. The international terminal was running less than 15 minutes.

As part of the checkpoint reopened Wednesday evening, the long wait times got substantially shorter.

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