Second TSA employee dies from coronavirus, 373 total workers test positive

A second Transportation Security Administration employee died from coronavirus the same day the agency announced its first worker had died. 

Alberto Camacho, a branch manager for the TSA's Acquisition Program Management in Arlington, Virginia, died April 3, according to a TSA news release.

A 20-year veteran of the transportation security industry, Camacho joined the TSA in 2005 and held multiple positions in security operations, enterprise support and the Federal Air Marshal Service. 

"Every day, he worked closely with TSA’s partners to ensure the nation’s aviation security technology remained cutting edge and ahead of the threat," a statement from the TSA read. "We offer our heartfelt condolences to Alberto’s family, friends and his TSA colleagues."

On April 3, the agency announced the passing of its first employee from coronavirus: Francis “Frank” Boccabella III, who worked as an explosive detection canine handler at Newark Liberty International Airport died April 2, the agency said.

Boccabella, 39, joined TSA in 2004, screening cargo at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and moved to Newark, New Jersey, to work as a compliance officer before joining the canine handler team.

"Frank was dedicated to protecting the traveling public with his canine partner, Bullet, a 6-year-old German Short-haired Pointer and his previous canine partner, Zmay," the news release said. "Frank and his canine partners screened hundreds of thousands of passengers, keeping them and the transportation network safe." 

Over the past 14 days, TSA has confirmed 42 positive cases among its employees across 16 airports, including eight cases at John F. Kennedy International, six at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International and four at Dallas/Fort Worth International. In addition to those 42, four nonscreening employees "who have relatively limited interaction with the traveling public" tested positive.

A total of 373 TSA employees have tested positive, and 23 have recovered. 

Contributing: Jayme Deerwester