CID Unveils Health Screening Program
Partnership with Mercy Medical Center
The Eastern Iowa Airport – CID has unveiled a new health screening program that airport officials believe will serve as a guide for the national conversation on health screenings at airports. CID intends to partner with Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids to deliver this first-of-its-kind program.
On Thursday morning at a special commission meeting, Cedar Rapids Airport Commissioners heard details of the plan, presented by CID Director Marty Lenss and Dr. Timothy Sagers, COVID-19 clinical director, Mercy Medical Center.
Lenss says the Travel Well program began to take shape in late March, a few weeks after the declaration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Following multiple reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local health officials about the global nature of the virus and the need to restrict travel, testing and health screening options became a regular part of the national and global discussion.
CID plans to implement this year-long program as a proof of concept – to provide robust and efficient screenings, conducted by Mercy Medical Center professionals. This pre-flight health screening would be required for all passengers departing on a flight out of CID as well as employees who work beyond the security checkpoint, called the sterile area.
Lenss says national travel surveys and CID survey information overwhelmingly show passengers would like to see health screening at airports.
“Our survey conducted by Vernon Research Group showed at least 75 percent of those who responded said they would feel somewhat more comfortable to much more comfortable with temperature checks either at the airport entrance or at the screening checkpoint,” he says.
Other local survey information showed corporate travel managers responded favorably to a health screening and temperature check by a medical professional, indicating it would make them feel safer about having employees travel.
Lenss says what makes the Travel Well program different from others being discussed is that the health screening will be conducted by medical professionals and it consists of more than a temperature check.
“The Travel Well program will provide an efficient approach to screening passengers and employees,” Lenss says. Mercy established these protocols at their hospital and clinics as part of its COVID-19 response to ensure the safety of its staff and patients.”
The screening will consist of a few standard health-related questions and a temperature check prior to reaching security. The screening is expected to take about 10 seconds per person. Those who do not have a temperature, or a recent positive COVID-19 exposure, will move onto the TSA screening checkpoint. Those who have a temperature above 100.4 degrees F and/or a recent COVID-19 exposure, will be directed to secondary screening in a private room. From there, Mercy’s health care professional will help determine the health issue causing the high temperature, such as an unrelated infection.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with the Eastern Iowa Airport on this screening initiative, which could assist other communities as they work to make air travel even safer, said Dr. Sagers. “We’ve seen that travelers around the country may be apprehensive about air travel. Our aim in this partnership is to provide further assurance that those who fly are as safe as possible.”
The program is also in line with recommendations from the recently released federal guidance, “Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus Guidance,” jointly issued on July 2, 2020 by the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services.
Airlines for America (A4A), a leading airline advocacy organization, has come out publicly in favor of health screening to be conducted by the Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA). TSA says no decision has been made regarding specific health screening measures at airports.
Lenss says the Travel Well program does not diminish those efforts but would enhance the dialogue.
“This was not designed to replace the need for a national solution,” Lenss says. “We absolutely agree there needs to be a national protocol put into place. We believe the Travel Well program can provide valuable information and data that can be used to help inform the national strategy.”
In the event the need for such screening is no longer needed, the process could be dismantled, and the requirement lifted.
The program will be funded through a portion of the $22.8 million CARES fund grant that CID was awarded earlier this year. Cost estimates are still being finalized.
A public hearing to provide people the opportunity to comment and share feedback about the program will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 in the ballroom at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a maximum of 40 people will be able to participate in person. Remote participation will be available via Zoom. To participate via Zoom, we request that you pre-register in order for us to ensure all have access to the meeting.
For those who plan to participate in person, we request that you pre-register by emailing PIO@flyCID.com or email or call Pam Hinman, director of marketing and communications, at P.Hinman@FlyCID.com or 319.731.5719.
In addition, people may provide written feedback by email to PIO@flyCID.com or by mailing comments to
Airport Director
Re: CID Travel Well
Eastern Iowa Airport – CID
2515 Arthur Collins Pkwy SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
The Airport Commission will consider formal approval of the program at its 7:30 a.m. meeting July 27.
