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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
Tish
Apr 6, 2020
Your Comment
Customers are NOT keeping the social distance from carriers! Minimum exposure isn't actually being followed.
  
Your Name
Stacy
May 5, 2020
Your Comment
I agree, Tish. In fact, I was in my local USPS yesterday and what should have taken me 5 minutes at the Self-Serve kiosk took me an hour because the kiosk was unavailable to print postage for letters or packages..STUPID!!! So, I got in line and waited. As I was in line folks coming in were pushing up on each other, no 6’ apart because people didn’t want to wait in line outside because it was hot? I dunno but I also saw dozens of folks coming inside without masks (or gloves) that needed to see a clerk. The sign clearly said you must wear a mask but it wasn’t adhered to, they still got waited on. The lines could have been much shorter had the Self Service kiosk been available AND people with no masks were asked to leave. The whole experience yesterday was just wrong and potentially life-threatening!
     
Your Name
Matt
May 10, 2020
Your Comment
Yes they don’t listen, just like you don’t liste . Stay home is what is being said. You didn’t stay home, why should they. It’s amazing how people think. They seem to think everything they do is important but everyone else should stay out of there way.
     
Your Name
Maria Shavzin
May 25, 2020
Your Comment
If youre wearing a mask, then you are protected from any droplets in the air. I doubt a mask would protect anyone from a really contagious disease....if that were true, then we wouldn't need medicine. Just cloth. But you shouldn't expect people to act on your paranoia. It would be even easier to get to the kiosk if all people wearing masks were asked to leave.
        
Your Name
Anonymous
Dec 5, 2020
Your Comment
Just because you are very ignorant on this issue does not mean others are. Wearing a mask does very little to protect oneself, it is only to protect others from the spread of your germs. This isn't "paranoia" it's the information available from multiple peer-reviewed articles. Do you even know what that means? Yeah, didnt think so.
        
Your Name
Auto-Stupid Bot
Dec 19, 2020
Your Comment
Actually, if you stick a clove of garlic up your bunghole, that's even more effective than all of the above. Give that a try Maria.
Your Name
Cristina Vonruff
Apr 6, 2020
Your Comment
Today in our mailbox there was a key for a package. This is the first time the key was covered in some unknown grease or oil. It wasn't evident until we picked it up. We are so surprised that at this time when people are taking extra precautions about hygiene, that this would happen. Of course we got our mail and then washed our hands with disinfectant. The first ti.e ever we have to leave this type of message. We are doing this to be responsible citizens. Perhaps the USPS will take additional measures to make sure this doesnt happen again and protect everyone by mak7ng sure carriers do not leave uncleN or somehow keys with unknown substances. This is not a complaint. This is a concern. We appreciate our mail professionals but want our safety looked out for always. Thank you.
  
Your Name
Usps contract driver
Apr 12, 2020
Your Comment
did you consider that just MAYBE, the "oil" on the box key could have been a spray-able disinfectant? Its keys going into locks that sit outside all day everyday. It was most likely WD-40 because it keeps the locks/keys from rusting, collecting dirt and grime, keeps the lock water proof, and stops the locks components from freezing? I'm just saying I feel like your coming off a little paranoid and severely ungrateful to the PEOPLE out there every day HAND DELIVERING, your little pieces of papers and useless unnecessary Amazon purchases... we are out here risking our lives and lives of our family and you are going to complain about some machine oil? Give me a break!
     
Your Name
Anonymous
Dec 5, 2020
Your Comment
Everyone is risking their lives, get off your high horse. I am currently waiting on life saving, neccessary medication in one of my several packages that haven't moved in 4 days. So maybe you shouldn't be so derisive over these stupid pieces of paper that keeps food on your table and a roof over your head. You are the ungrateful one and can't see passed your nose.
     
Your Name
Anonymous
Dec 16, 2020
Your Comment
Well can you risk your life on over to my house and get me my packages?
Your Name
Catherine C Bell
Apr 6, 2020
Your Comment
all I have to said is thanks, and be safe.
Your Name
mj
Apr 6, 2020
Your Comment
Why does the USPS require daily mail pickups from office bldgs closed due to COVID - with a large % of the USPS work force not reporting to work due to self-quarantine or actual illness, why isn't the USPS redirecting drivers who usually have the office bldg collection routes to fill in for mail carriers in areas of Manhattan hardest hit with a smaller work force? Many of the office bldgs don't permit access so drivers simply, for the sake of continuity, make futile attempts to scan their stops and complete their routes. Continuity is unimportant to a locked bldg. Continuity is more important to residents in areas where mail delivery is inconsistent due to fewer carriers available. Is this is the best plan the USPS has? No wonder the USPS consistently operates at a loss. The USPS needs a complete overhaul.
  
Your Name
Anonymous
Apr 19, 2020
Your Comment
MJ, they are asking you to pick it up most likely due to the fact that whether your business is closed or not, people still send the mail. Unless you contact everyone you receive mail from, the post office most likely doesn't have a place to store all of what is sent through the mail. The post office does not operate on a negative balance either. What you may believe to be true, does not mean it is. Hope this helps. We live to serve. I'm sorry that in this time of crisis, it may not be exactly to your preferences. Stay vigilant and safe USPS!
     
Your Name
Jason
May 21, 2020
Your Comment
The USPS has continuously lost business/money over the last 2 decades resulting in increased postage cost and increased government subsidization. The biggest impact was e-commerce and online communications where courier services like FedEx, UPS and DHL started getting the lion's share of packages. Simultaneously we saw physical mail vastly reduce with the increased use of online banking, email, digital financial transfers, Facebook, etc. Yes, the USPS has been a failing business model for decades. It's only method to remain solvent has been continuous rate increases and whatever negative balance remains is made up by federal subsidies. Funny how you don't hear the USPS criticized for the ongoing bailout like you do the US auto industry or banks...
        
Your Name
JJ
Jun 22, 2020
Your Comment
USPS is nearly insolvent due to the Bush Administration's requirement that they fund their pension plan completely for the next 75 years. The GOP required that they fund pension for future employees who aren't even born yet. It was not email, it's not Amazon, it's the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. Insanely, it also said they could not raise the price of postage more than the rate of inflation. It's a very clear line - USPS were mostly in the black before the act, they've been in the red almost every year since 2007. It was described by one congressman as one of the worst pieces of legislation in a generation. USPS is not a private car company - those comparisons are ridiculous - it's a vital, necessary and crucial public service. I am stunned by the ignorance and willingness to attack a much needed public institution. It's not just some guy's business or another bureaucratic gov't whale - it's OUR Postal Service, inexplicably under attack from the GOP for years.