But the latest numbers are higher and highlight the challenge the novel coronavirus poses to the federal workforce. More than 240,000 people work for DHS, making it the third-largest workforce in the federal government. Many of those employees interact with numerous people every day as part of their work, including employees with Customs and Border Protection and the TSA.

“The department’s leadership is going to have to pay very close attention as this public health crisis evolves,” said John Cohen, former acting undersecretary of intelligence and analysis. “It has to be concerned that its ability to carry out its core mission could be compromised if there’s a widespread outbreak of the virus among DHS personnel. And quite frankly, that’s something that federal, state, and local officials need to be concerned about across the board — that this virus will spread among first responders, law enforcement, and Homeland Security personnel, compromising the ability of those organizations to protect the public.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised people to “put distance” between themselves and others if the virus is spreading in their community. Thousands of Americans are following this directive, and numerous workplaces have directed their employees to work from home.

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA officers, has criticized the department over its handling of the outbreak. The union pushed for them to be able to wear respirators at work, but, according to a statement from AFGE, TSA management refused, only allowing surgical masks.