Amid the ongoing coronavirus emergency, the United States Postal Service is taking steps to protect employees and customers alike.
To start, the agency formed a team to target the matter, according to Jill S. Walters, strategic communications specialist, USPS APP/WPA Districts.
“The Postal Service has a dedicated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Command Response leadership team that is focusing on employee and customer safety in conjunction with operational and business continuity during this unprecedented epidemic,” she explained.
Walters said the agency follows the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health departments.
Several operational changes have been put into play to reduce risk to employees and customers while maintaining business continuity, she said.
For one, “millions of masks, gloves and cleaning and sanitizing products are available and distributed to more than 30,000 locations every day through our Postal Service supply chain,” Walters said.”We also have opened up local purchasing authorities and sourcing options so that our employees can access additional supplies within the communities they serve.”
Also, she said that signage, floor tape and “cough/sneeze” barriers are used at retail and mail processing facilities to encourage social distancing and minimize risk. The agency no longer requires customers to sign its Mobile Delivery Devices for delivery.
“For increased safety, employees will politely ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer’s door,” Walters said.
The U.S. Postal Service updated cleaning policies to match CDC guidelines.
The agency updated its leave policies, making it easier for employees to stay home for reasons outlined in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, for instance, if they feel sick or need to care for a dependent.
“We have entered into agreements with our unions to provide 80 hours of paid leave to non-career employees for issues related to COVID-19, and have expanded the definition of sick leave for dependent care for covered employees to deal with the closures of primary and secondary schools across the country,” said Walters.
The agency offered telework for employees who are able to work remotely, she added. Guidance and information on the virus are issued to employees daily, too.
According to Walters, the agency has localized plans to ensure the mail is still delivered during emergencies like this.
She explained, “With a longstanding history of quickly adapting its operational plans to changing conditions, the Postal Service maintains steady communications with mailers during natural disasters or other events that require emergency responses and advises residential customers and business mailers with regard to postal facility disruptions that may impact delivery in an affected area via its USPS Service Alerts webpage at: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/.
There are a few things customers can do to help make mail delivery easier and safer.
For one, people shouldn’t use mailboxes to make personal deliveries to friends.
“We know it is a challenge to find ways to connect with family and friends at this time,” said Walters. “Please remember anything without postage and not related to USPS business should not be placed in mailboxes.”
She also asked that customers maintain a safe distance — 6 feet, according to the CDC — between themselves and any letter carrier or post office clerk.
Walters wants people to remember that the risk of getting sick from mail delivery is low. She said the CDC, the World Health Organization and the Surgeon General have agreed, “There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail.”
She shared a quote from the CDC: “in general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets.”
As Walters pointed out, the Postal Service remains open because it is considered an essential service.
“The Postal Service delivers much needed medications and Social Security checks, and we are the leading delivery service for online purchases,” she said. “The Postal Service is an essential service for purposes of compliance with state or municipality shelter-in-place orders or other social distancing restrictions.”
The agency appreciates the work its employees are putting in during this emergency.
“The United States Postal Service is proud of the work our more than 600,000 employees play in processing, transporting, and delivering mail and packages for the American public,” she said. “We provide a vital public service that is a part of this nation’s critical infrastructure.”
