TSA Screens New Pandemic Record Number of Travelers Following Christmas

The Transportation Security Administration screened millions of airline passengers on Saturday and Sunday, the days after Christmas, as fliers continue to show a pent-up demand for travel despite warnings by the Centers for Disease Control to stay at home for the holidays.

The TSA screened 1,128,773 people on Dec. 26, according to USA Today, the fourth-most number of passengers to fly since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. And then came Sunday, Dec. 27 when a new record was set. The TSA screened 1,284,599 people at airport checkpoints this past Sunday.

Prior to that, the most prolific travel day during the pandemic came just four days prior, on Dec. 23, when the TSA screened 1,191,123 people. On Sunday, Nov. 29, the final day of Thanksgiving weekend when the TSA screen nearly 1.2 million people.

This past Saturday was the fifth day during the Christmas holiday rush when traveler counts topped 1 million, USA Today noted. Many travelers headed out early, with more than 1 million individuals screened on three consecutive days the weekend prior to the holiday from Dec. 18-20.

Despite a surge in COVID-19 that has pushed the U.S. to more than 19 million cases and more than 332,000 deaths, it does not appear that travelers are adhering to the warning to stay at home – in groups of 10 or less – in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.

For those who decide to travel, the CDC now recommends they get tested for COVID-19 one to three days before their trips as well as three to five days after, and reduce nonessential activities for seven days after travel. Those who do not get tested should reduce nonessential activities for 10 days after travel, the agency said.