Business

Florida air traffic tower closes after worker gets virus

January 25, 2021 7:14 am

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport [Source: Tampa Bay Time]

The air traffic control tower of a Florida airport has been closed after a worker tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The Federal Aviation Administration posted on its website that the air traffic control tower at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport was closed after the worker was found to be positive for the virus on Wednesday.

The FAA said the air traffic control tower at nearby Tampa International Airport will handle the other airport’s air space until the tower reopens at the end of the month.

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The FAA didn’t say how many other workers were exposed to the infected employee.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport had almost 1.4 million passengers last year, a nearly 40% decrease from the previous year due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Florida on Sunday reported 9,535 new coronavirus cases and 132 new deaths from the virus. The Sunshine State now has had more than 1.6 million virus cases and 25,693 related deaths since March.