Good Afternoon Team,
As we begin to hear talk in the media and from government officials that the “curve is flattening” and we are on the “back side of the peak”, we must not let our guard down. We continue to see our teammates test positive for COVID-19 at LaGuardia Airport at a steady rate, giving strength to the argument that we cannot afford to lower our guard. And, if history is any indicator, we will likely experience a second wave of the virus. In sum, we are in the midst of a long struggle to rid our community of this virus, and we need to remind ourselves that the threat continues to be real and the consequences for abandoning safe personal hygiene and effective PPE practices could be dire.
Many of you are aware the New York Governor recently issued Executive Orders pertaining to staying at home and the wearing of face masks in public, along with guidance that has flowed down from TSA HQ and the CDC. All this information can be confusing. In order to clarify and simplify our local policy, the following authoritative guidance is effective at 1200 AM on Friday, 17 April 2020 for all TSA personnel assigned to the LaGuardia Hub and Spoke:
All TSA personnel performing duties as a Ticket Document Checker (TDC), Dynamic Officer (DO), or Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) Officer are required as a minimum to wear nitro gloves and a mask (either surgical or N95).
This guidance will remain in effect until rescinded. All LGA management officials are required to bring this information to the attention of their respective workspaces. Personnel found in violation of this policy may be subject to administrative action.
As now mandated by NY state law, be mindful while transiting to/from work. We all need to wear a mask or cloth covering nose and mouth while in the public domain (utilizing mass transit, visiting a local store or gas station, accessing public walkways) where you are unable or its impracticable to practice social distancing.
Please comply with these simple rules so that we may remain healthy and help ward off a potential second wave of this disease.
V/r,
Matt McKeon
Deputy Federal Security Director
