tsa bins

Travelers Can Take Larger Bottles of Hand Sanitizer In Carry-On Luggage, TSA Announces

In response to the growing concerns around the spread of coronavirus in the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration said that passengers can bring hand sanitizer containers up to 12 ounces in size.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Mar 17, 2020

A new policy announced by the Transportation Security Administration on Friday allows travelers to bring hand sanitizer containers that are up to 12 ounces in size -- quite an increase from the usual 3.4 ounces that are usually allowed.

“TSA understands that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is at the forefront on the minds of travelers, as health officials are encouraging that individuals wash their hands frequently,” the TSA said in a published post on its website. “With that in mind, TSA is allowing passengers to bring liquid hand sanitizer containers up to 12 ounces in carry-on bags until further notice.”

The change only applies to hand sanitizer, which has flown off the shelves across the country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Over 4,000 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., which health officials say is a massive undercount of how many Americans have been infected due to people not having access to tests or not reporting symptoms to medical personnel.

Dollar sales of hand sanitizer in four weeks ending on March 7 surged 228 percent in comparison to the same time period in 2019, CNN reported. While airlines have reported a huge drop in the number of passengers boarding flights, those travelers can carry larger containers in their carry-on baggage.

At the same time, TSA agents said that those containers will be subject to additional screening, which could increase wait times. That caveat, along with the limited availability of hand sanitizer, has The Verge advising passengers to ask “How much sanitizer do you need with you?” before heading to the airport.

Airports across the country have also set up hand sanitizer stations, making it easier for passengers who do not want to carry large bottles on the plane with them.

Agents have also expressed concern about inadequate protection for security screeners who are coming into contact with hundreds or thousands of travelers per day. A union representing about 45,000 TSA officers demanded that the Department of Homeland Security provide more masks for agents to protect them from contracting the coronavirus, leading to some changes in CDC guidelines.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3