Dec 24, 2020 - Economy

TSA screens close to a pre-lockdown high of nearly 1.2 million people

Jacob Knutson

Travelers waiting in line to check in for a flight at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 22. — Travelers waiting to check in for a flight at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 22. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Transportation Security Administration screened 1,191,123 people at airport checkpoints around the United States on Wednesday, according to Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokesperson.

Why it matters: It's the largest recorded number since before the COVID-19 pandemic and signals that more people are traveling for the holidays despite CDC warnings to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The big picture: On March 16, before the start of the pandemic in the United States, TSA screened 1,257,823 people.

It screened 1,176,091 people at checkpoints on the Sunday after Thanksgiving this year.

Go deeper ... Fauci: 10 people may be too many for holiday gatherings

Add Axios on Google

TSA screens close to a pre-lockdown high of nearly 1.2 million people

What to read next