FAA approves airport coronavirus screenings, paving way for first program to launch in Iowa

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Wed, 2021-01-20 12:50 — mike kraft

FAA approves airport coronavirus screenings, paving way for first program to launch in Iowa The FAA said airports are allowed to use coronavirus relief money and other funds to conduct the screenings. Ian Duncan Washington Post

The airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, plans next week to begin screening passengers for symptoms of covid-19 before they go through security, implementing a first-of-its-kind plan that was on hold for months while federal officials reviewed its funding.

The top executives of Eastern Iowa Airport wanted to use coronavirus relief money to check passengers for symptoms and won approval from local authorities in July. But airport revenue is strictly regulated, and the officials did not want to move forward without approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

In late December, the agency gave its approval. The decision opens the door for the nation’s 500-plus other airports to implement screening programs.

“We’re excited to get this launched,” said Marty Lenss, the director of the Cedar Rapids airport. “We’ve been working on it for a while. We have always looked at it as one more layer in a multilayered approach in restoring passenger confidence.” ...

The cost will be covered by a portion of the $23 million the airport received in coronavirus relief funding.

The mandatory screening would build on efforts by airlines to try to keep sick people off flights. Airlines typically require self-declarations and mask-wearing by passengers but do not conduct professional health screenings or require coronavirus testing of domestic passengers.

The United States on Jan. 26 is to require passengers arriving from other countries to have evidence of negative coronavirus testing, adopting a measure that has been in place in many countries for months....

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