A major US airline trade group said it backed the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checking the temperatures of passengers and customer-facing employees during the coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported.

Airlines for America said the checks “will add an extra layer of protection for passengers as well as airline and airport employees".

A US official said no decision has been made on whether to mandate the checks, but said the issue is the subject of extensive talks among government agencies and with airlines, adding that a decision could potentially be made as early as next week.