As states across the nation begin to reopen their economies, the Transportation Security Administration will begin checking airline passengers' temperatures to help identify those who potentially have the Wuhan coronavirus.
The airline industry has pressed the agency to monitor those who are flying to reassure passengers and encourage travel. As of now, the airline industry has seen a 90 percent decline in travelers because of the virus and states' individual stay-at-home orders.
TSA, however, is tired of screening passengers, saying it's not part of their security mission, the Wall Street Journal reported. Others argue taking a temperature is useless if a person is asymptomatic.
“I cannot find any law that gives TSA the authority to perform temperature checks as reported,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, told the WSJ.
Airlines are also implementing other measures, like requiring passengers to wear a mask on flights and encouraging social distancing.
Frontier Airlines has its own plans to screen passengers. Beginning June 1, passengers with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will rest and then be re-checked. If the temperature persists, the passenger won't be allowed to travel and will be asked to rebook their flight.
