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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
Ron Hanz
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
I see many others are venting about non-delivery of packages. I have three in the local post office right now, one arrived 18 Jul and the other two 22 Jul. I have tracking numbers for them, but they only show the local PO has received them. Think I will show up Monday morning and ask for them. If I do not get them, I will be back every single freaking day until I do.
Your Name
D M Bac
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
A package of mine, per tracking services, arrived in ISC Chicago on July 9. To date, July 25, the packaged tracker indicates no movement. Is this a result of quarantine practice to withhold mail/packages for 14 days as result of pandemic protective measures. My regards.
  
Your Name
Kim H
Aug 1, 2020
Your Comment
Did you ever receive your package? It’s funny because I’ve also had a package stuck at the exact location since July 9th! And I live in Chicago! This is getting out of control.
  
Your Name
CW
Aug 1, 2020
Your Comment
It’s almost August 2, 2020. Mine had been held up in customs at Chicago ISC since July 24th 7:20a. I see it says ISC Chicago II now, still customs. It was received July 16th at the same facility. It’s medication. Have no idea what I should say. Have you contacted them? We all should blast The Inspector General. This is not acceptable. I am reading about theft, missing mail, tracking that doesn’t seem to update and dead mail. I’m sorry I’m not laying here suffering the last days of my life for a bunch of shady things. Have you heard anything or do you plan to contact them? Please let me know. I hope you get your package soon!
  
Your Name
Anonymous
Aug 3, 2020
Your Comment
Same deal. I have a package that got there July 19th. Nothing since. And given what is going on it is a huge issue as it is the part to fix my car so I can, you know, drive to work since I'm "essential".
Your Name
Leslie Plank
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
I still pay most of my bills by putting a check in the mail. What used to take 4-5 days is now taking a minimum of 3 weeks resulting in 2 late payments with fees and interest accrued. I always pay in full and on time so this is extremely frustrating!! What is going on?? I can’t fathom what would be the cause of taking so long...not even COVID. Do I need to switch to online accounting completely.
Your Name
Pamela Mann
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
Is the postal worker behind the counter supposed to be wearing a mask when working with customers? I went into the post office in Great Cacapon, WV (25422) for the first time since this thing started, and the postal worker was not wearing a mask. When I ask her why not, she said “because there is plexiglass in front of me.” Now, the plexiglass only goes halfway across the little window she’s in, and she was waiting on customers on the open side, and coming out from the back to talk to people. I was completely stressed out already because nobody was keeping a 6 foot distance. And nobody was wearing masks. I’m in West Virginia, I don’t know if that makes a difference as far as the post office goes, but aren’t customers also supposed to be wearing masks? Shouldn’t the postal workers be enforcing that?
  
Your Name
Reva M Elias
Jul 28, 2020
Your Comment
I live in Watersmeet Michigan and masks are mandatory in Michigan in ALL public places. They are not enforcing it at the post office at al. A little teeny sign on the door that people ignore. Do something please.
Your Name
Christopher
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
I checked with a customer service agent agent with Bank of America regarding my Arizona unemployment prepaid Visa card that was sent out on July 9 to my address in Jacksonville Florida. They said it would take 7 to 10 business days. It is now July 25 and that would be almost 15 business days and I have yet to receive it! Is this delay due to the Covid night teen virus or what?!?

Your Name
Charlotte
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
Hi, I have sent a packet of Tim tams from Australia to Los Angeles and they haven’t moved in 18 days saying there in a facility in Los Angeles? I’m wondering if there either been lost or can’t process,
how long is customs at the moment for packages?
Thanks for the help!
Your Name
Jackie Smith
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
Why does it take 14 days for a small pkg with 4 masks i made for my dad to go from greentown Indiana to Lansing Michigan? It went from greentown to Indianapolis then to Detroit in 2 days. It sat in Detroit 11 days then from Detroit to Lansing. That's totally unacceptable! Get it together and do your job!
Your Name
Sherry High
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
I have been to the post office in Windermere,FL twice in the last week and 3 employees were not wearing masks! It is a mandate in Orange County. There is plexiglass but the employees stick their head out from around the glass and speak right in your face!
  
Your Name
Postmaster General!
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
Please pay attention to customers on this blog--and the many, many others who never heard of this blog and don't know where to turn--and mandate masks (properly worn) for postal employees who meet customers face-to-face. I'm sure your friends in the White House will forgive you. Even they know it's the right thing to do.
Your Name
Enid Light
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
Postal delivery person does not wear mask
Several neighbors, including myself, have asked her to do so.
  
Your Name
Benjamin d Lampson
Jul 30, 2020
Your Comment
Postal delivery personal shouldn't have to wear a mask....they are usually on foot and briskly walking. Please don't try to stop them and tell them your whole life story...they have a ob to do, and that job IS NOT to keep the elderly entertained.
Your Name
Joseph Hreha
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
I fully understand that packages are delayed due to COVID-19, but I cannot understand why my tracking shows items doing circles across the US before delivery. I had a packae go from Cincinatti to Des Moines to Cincinatti to Des Moines before getting to Texas!

Another package shows arriving July 5 in Pennsylvania depot and then never leaving for Texas. I am afraid to order anything that would be shipped by USPS. I won't be shipping anything by USPS either!

Your package tracking needs to be upgraded to compete with UPS, FEDEX, AMAZON etc. in order to compete in todays world.
  
Your Name
Becky Hill
Aug 3, 2020
Your Comment
Let me help you with that question. My mail order medicine was received by an Illinois USPS center on July 16th. There was a tracking update on July 20th that said it was in transit but would be late because of COVID. When there was no update on the 24th, I filed a case. On the 25th, I got an angry phone call from the local post office. She told me that Post Office management directs trucks to stay put until fully loaded and my package still hadn’t left the first center because the truck wasn’t full yet. I said, in anger, “so the Post office is more concerned with wasting gas than keeping their commitments?” She replied that mail is not considered late until after 30 days! I filed another case. Got another phone call that said they were going to ask if my package could be pulled off the truck. On the 31st I got a tracking update that it was at a different Illinois center. Then on 8/2 I got a tracking update that it had arrived at a distribution center 10 miles from my post office. However this morning I got an update that it was delivered to the wrong city 30 miles away. Ugh!!!
Your Name
Caprice
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
I have had 3 packages come up missing at the St. Louis regional center. The first one was sent back because of postage issues with the sender. I was told by the local post office it was sent back or thrown away. It was sent long before COVID19 and got to St. Louis in April. Was out for delivery but because I moved and completed a change of address it was not forwarded to my new address. The second one was shipped from my cousin in Mississippi back in June. It made it to the St. Louis regional center and stopped there. Was sent 2 day priority but took way longer. Still hasn't been delivered. Third package was something I ordered from Goodwill. Package made it to the St Louis regional center. Then it was sent to St. Genevieve then Des Moines then back to the St Louis regional center where it is sitting. I live in St. Louis. Why would my package come here and then take a tour around the country. Feels like someone is stealing packages. Called several times and no one helps when they do answer the phone. This is why I hate shipping with the post office. Rude employees horrible service and packages always get lost or just sit at the Regional Center.
Your Name
Alondra M Ferreyra Díaz
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
Hi, I understand that we are living in a very complicated situation due to COVID-19 and that it is understandable that packages may take more time than usual to arrive. However, I have ordered several items online since June and this is the only one that has taken too long. I made an order from Amazon for 4 items, which was divided, as they always do for quicker delivery. However this package (2 items), has not been delivered and has the following message since 7/16/2020: In Transit to Next Facility//Your package is moving within the USPS network and is on track to be delivered to its final destination. It is currently in transit to the next facility.

I live in Puerto Rico and usually packages take about 5-10 days to arrive from any US State. I opened a claim yesterday and they told me that I should wait a few days, but I’m afraid that it takes too long, and loose my opportunity to claim Amazon if the package is indeed lost. I really hope that you can help me.
Your Name
harrison
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
i have a macbook coming from florida to south carolina, it hasn’t moved since it was dropped off at the post office in florida 3 days ago. i have school coming up soon and i’d really like for my package to come?? i’m sure it’s going to go from there and to atlanta and then north atlanta and spend a week in both facilities because that’s what always happens. i understand there’s a pandemic going on but when i order something and it’s shipped through priority mail and it says it should be arriving in two days when it hasn’t even moved, it’s frustrating. i ordered something that came all the way from kansas and shipped with UPS and it has already arrived.
Your Name
Anonymous
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
Are postal clerks allowed to refuse service to customers who refuse to wear a mask in states with a mask mandate?
Your Name
Katharine Douglass
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
I recently visited the Tynn St post office in Eugene. The workers behind the desk were wearing their masks below their noses endangering their customers who stood only a few ft away. Please direct all postal workers that masks need to COVER the nose to be effective.
  
Your Name
Hey, Postmaster General!
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
Please pay attention to customers on this blog--and the many, many others who never heard of this blog and don't know where to turn--and mandate masks (properly worn) for postal employees who meet customers face-to-face. I'm sure your friends in the White House will forgive you. Even they know it's the right thing to do.
     
Your Name
Pira H
Aug 19, 2020
Your Comment
And i am sure many who caught the virus when DiBlasio told NYers to go out and party will forgive him too, as nursing home residents and those who died or caught it will forgive Cuomo; he should be prosecuted for his negligence with COVID, and maybe you should accuse Fauci too since he also stated masks weren't necessary, and now changed his tune, and he has become the Dems best friend now. Now facebook removes anyone who speaks of hydroquinone though the drug has been used for years and years to combat malaria and the opinions range from one extreme to the next, but there is not doubt on its effectiveness in other cases. I''m thankful for my post office here in S.C. All workers behind counters have a plastic shield, they all wear masks, and are extremely helpful. Seems alot of the issues foucs around Chicago area.
  
Your Name
OIG Moderator
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
Hello, Katharine. Thank you for your comment. Regarding your concern, please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or at https://emailus.usps.com/emailUs/iq/usps/request.do?forward=emailUs . Just choose the tab marked "Personnel."