Expands the main menu
Pushing the Envelope Blog

Operating During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Date: 04/06/20 | Category: OIG

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted our country in ways that were unimaginable months ago. It is changing how people across the U.S. and around the world are working, shopping, even interacting with one another. States have ordered many stores and businesses to close. Businesses that continue to operate are faced with protecting their employees and customers, while coming up with creative ways to market and deliver their products.

The Postal Service continues to serve the public, operating on the front line, fulfilling the universal service obligation to deliver to every house and business every day. USPS is finding itself serving a population that is relying on it now more than ever. For many home-bound and quarantined people, home delivery is the only source for medicine and other vital supplies. During this time, the Postal Service has also prioritized the safety of its employees and customers.

We recognize the reality of the pandemic and have adapted our operations to maintain continuity while ensuring the safety of our employees. We are taking abundant care to minimize exposure to both our employees and Postal Service employees, using technology whenever possible. As we have told our employees, we also ask you to follow CDC guidelines, remain home as much as possible, and stay safe.

For questions or concerns about delivery during the pandemic, please go to usps.com to track mail or get information from the USPS Coronavirus FAQs page.

Postal Service employees, for work-related complaints or issues, please use our Hotline to let us know.

Leave a Comment

     
Your Name
Awaiting a Parcel
Sep 2, 2020
Your Comment
If a parcel LEAVING the US, I always understood that there was no customs involved on the US side. Customs inspections are conducted on the receiving end.
     
Your Name
Ken678
Oct 18, 2020
Your Comment
ISC worker,
Can you explain to me the difference between USPS, ISC, and Customs? I have a package that "processed through ISC" and don't understand who has it and where the package is in the process. Thanks
Your Name
Private
Aug 18, 2020
Your Comment
I had something sent registered mail on Saturday and I am just wondering if there is a COVID update because it was not delivered to my door for a signature. I am in Virginia Beach.
Your Name
Anil Joshi
Aug 17, 2020
Your Comment
Hi Sir/madam
Are you delivering packages to India during corona pandemic?
Your response is highly appreciated.
Thanks and regards
Your Name
Dr. Jones
Aug 17, 2020
Your Comment
I had a package that was sitting in ISC Chicago that arrived there Jul 28. Updates show it left ISC Chicago on Aug 12. Why would a package need to sit there for over 2 weeks?! It's way beyond the estimated arrival date SET BY USPS from an order late July. Co-vid is not an excuse for something to sit over 2 week in one spot including any other excuses along the lines of "decontamination" either. I am a doctor and these are some medical supplies I need to treat my patients. Please advise and hopefully correct.
  
Your Name
Donald MacGregor
Aug 17, 2020
Your Comment
My package arrived at ISC Chicago on that same date, and it is still sitting there.
     
Your Name
Angel
Aug 19, 2020
Your Comment
Mine arrived at the Chicago ISC a month ago, sat for couple weeks, then finally went in transit on Jul 30 and it has been stuck there since then. I wonder if I should just call this a lost cause...
  
Your Name
Karah
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
I hear ya...i ordered something the last week of May and its been sitting in Chicago Customs for 22 days now..3 months now it's taken since i ordered...but why 22 days in Chicago?? 3 weeks?!?!
Your Name
Kamberly Davis
Aug 16, 2020
Your Comment
USPS carriers are delivering larger packages to my front porch, never wearing a mask. We have five children ages 5-11yrs of age often playing in our front yard, looped driveway and front side yards, which are their traditional "back yard" spaces, as our home sits on a slope. She knocked on our front door, wearing NO MASK?? to collect a package she misdelivered, 4th issue of her misdelivering in the last month. Masks are law in Arkansas and I have told my children to stay away, but they are children mostly under 10yrs and 4 diagnosed with ADHD and they simply forget. I am told by the post office manager of Bella Vista that it is my children that must move!! How about their employee put on a mask. Children in their own driveway playing with chalk or reading on their front porch are doing positive things are supposed to get up and move on their own property?? How about the mail carriers put a mask on. Out of fear they will throw my packages on the front lawn or driveway etc within spitting distance too lazy and disrespectful to wear masks, out of fear we haven't put a sign up asking they wear a mask, because children are at play! Ignorant, why do you think these children are at home?? For their protection ofcourse we have vulnerable people in our family and a family of 7, we are helping to slow the spread.
  
Your Name
Megan
Aug 23, 2020
Your Comment
Try carrying a heavy package while wearing a mask and you will understand why. Then imagine doing that for 8 hours.
     
Your Name
Gwyn Morris
Aug 25, 2020
Your Comment
I'm sorry, but it's their job, they chose to do it. Medical workers have to work longer with masks on, doing things that make you much hotter and they don't get to go and sit in an air conditioned van after.
        
Your Name
Cartero
Sep 3, 2020
Your Comment
There is no air conditioned van for most, and the few who have it are out of the vehicle for 30 minutes at a time only to get back in for a minute drive to his next park and loop point. However because of carrier heat related deaths the service finally declared a vehicle out if the fan doesn't work a couple of years ago.. it was one of those lessons learned because of blood.
  
Your Name
Wanda potter
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
Were your kids wearing their masks ? I bet not
Your Name
Todd S Whitehill
Aug 16, 2020
Your Comment
This is so ridiculous. I have been waiting on an EMS package from India since the end of March. So...we heading towards 1/2 of a year to ship from India. I guess maybe next time they should put it on a Camel or something. As far as the Postal Workers wearing masks, who cares. WHO says it cant be transmitted by asymptomatic people. Flatten the fear people.
  
Your Name
Edna Meadors
Aug 19, 2020
Your Comment
What planet are you living on??? Asymptomatic can’t spread CV? Get your facts straight!
  
Your Name
Karas
Aug 28, 2020
Your Comment
Yeah the WHO walked that waaaaaaay back like right after they said it... You have to keep up with news in these times, as they learn new things about Covid everyday that may be different then their initial beliefs.... It takes time to fully understand diseases. You cant take 100 people's cases and assume that those 100 cases are true for everyone. The more cases there are, the larger the data pools, the more exact the science, Please stop spreading misinformation. It's killing people.
Your Name
Dinah Kay
Aug 15, 2020
Your Comment
Seriously?! At this point by August 2020 the corona excuse is getting ridiculous! If mail and or pkgs can't get to destinations in a timely matter then don't take our $ for priority mail or at least have every postal worker tell you that BEFORE they grab our money & give you a bogus delivery date. Also be nice to see workers in a mask or hand sanitizer out or someone cleaning the filthy looking postal office I came upon in Huntley Illinois
Your Name
Bryan
Aug 14, 2020
Your Comment
I have a package that has been stuck at a distribution center for over a week now how much longer can it be before I receive it or will I receive it. This covid excuse is a joke I still have to do my job in a timely matter they should to.
Your Name
Gloria Meredith
Aug 14, 2020
Your Comment
I was taking 3 packages from the package box that serves multiple residents in Pennsylvania. The postal worker arrived (drive up) and was not wearing a mask or gloves. I asked her to stop and put on a mask if she had one. She just kept coming towards me determined to put all of her boxes in our package box. She didn't try to social distance and would have bumped into me if I hadn't run away. She was very rude. She knew I was taking my packages from the box but she didn't care. I dropped my packages and had to cross the road to get away from her and then I had to wait about 15 minutes until she was finished. She filled the box completely and it took me much more time to find the packages that were already in my hands. I really want to complain about this. I am in my late 70s and no one should risk my life by being rude enough to come within a few inches of me without a mask!! I was wearing a mask and gloves the entire time!
  
Your Name
Masks and the USPS
Aug 14, 2020
Your Comment
Gloria, the one to blame here is the Postmaster General, who has not made mask wearing a requirement among employees. He is too busy doing what he was put in the job for: to dismantle the USPS, first to help suppress votes for his boss's opponent, second to make money for competitor delivery services, such as those he himself has invested in. Drain the Swamp indeed! We're all being eaten by a crime family and their alligators.
Your Name
Anonymous
Aug 13, 2020
Your Comment
I've had an express package stuck inbound to Chicago customs for nearly a week. I paid $35 shipping for this item and I'm mad. I know a few other people who bought the same thing as me and are still also having this issue and our packages arrived there the same day. I know with the pandemic things are short, but this is ridiculous. My stuff has never spent more than a day in customs so I'm fuming.There is obviously something wrong with Chicago customs so PLEASE fix it. Some people have important packages they need and Chicago customs obviously doesn't care.
Your Name
Allisha Jackson
Aug 12, 2020
Your Comment
My packages has been sitting in Miami center for over 10 days now with no movement no updates, spoke with a Rep she had no info other than "it's not lost, it's just taking longer than normal with Covid" Really? Fedex, DHL, and UPS are not having these issues! I paid for priority shipping and if you know you can't deliver in the expected time, how can you charge the same rate?? I will never use USPS if there is another option again!
Your Name
John H Burton
Aug 12, 2020
Your Comment
How do I apply for Covid-19 disability benefits?
Your Name
Anonymous
Aug 12, 2020
Your Comment
I just came from the DC Post Office on MacArthur Boulevard and the postal worker behind the desk did not have a mask on and neither did the postal worker who was visiting the office. I am appalled that they were not wearing masks.
Your Name
Ernest
Aug 11, 2020
Your Comment
I have been expecting a package for 2 months now. It has been stuck in Chicago for a month now. I needed this for work, I am past the 3 weeks anticipated delay that I prepared for.
This is inexcusable, even for a "virus" that lives on a surface per CDC for only about 5 days max.
I am beginning to think that USPS doesn't need funding since they are acting like they can't handle their jobs anyway. Leave packages to the big boys, like Amazon, UPS, even Fedex is shining brighter.
This Chicago plant has been an issue for years. Inspector General has even noted it in the past that they were inefficient by 80%. So why has there been nothing done about management there or the employees who are bragging about pay without having to work these last several months?