2020-03-11T17:57:13Z
- The Transportation Security Administration is advising travelers to take extra precautions during screenings at airports as the coronavirus spreads across the US.
- The TSA is encouraging travelers to wash their hands before and after screening procedures.
- It's also telling passengers not to place items like phones and wallets in bins and instead put them in their personal carry-on luggage.
- Liquid hand sanitizer, as well as individually packaged and "jumbo" packages of wipes, is allowed in carry-on and checked luggage, the TSA said.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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The coronavirus is continuing to spread across the US, and the World Health Organization just declared it a pandemic.
But people are still traveling, so if you're flying soon in the US, here are some tips and reminders from the TSA about what to do — and not to do — during screening procedures, as well as what you can bring through security.
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Don't put your phones in bins
The TSA is telling travelers not to place certain personal items in bins.
"Bins in use in the security checkpoint are like any other piece of public property and should be treated as such. With hundreds of travelers coming through an airport security checkpoint each hour, the bins are a common use item," the agency said. "Do not place personal items such as wallets, keys or phone in a bin. Instead, secure them in carry-on property to be screened through the X-ray system."
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Wash your hands before and after screening
As passengers are touching things like shoes and bins during the screening process, the TSA is advising passengers to wash their hands before and after screenings.
TSA officers are also advised to wash their hands regularly.
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You can bring wipes and hand sanitizer with you
The TSA also said, "As a reminder, travelers are permitted to bring individually-packaged alcohol or anti-bacterial wipes in carry-on or checked luggage. Jumbo containers of hand wipes are also allowed in carry-on or checked luggage. Liquid hand sanitizers also are permitted in carry-on luggage."
What else to do while traveling
Business Insider reporter Thomas Pallini put together a list of things you can do to avoid germs while traveling, like putting your boarding pass on your phone. You can view the list here.
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