"...U.S. Postal Service: The mailing agency has seen 60 postal workers die from symptoms related to COVID-19. About 2,400 have tested positive for coronavirus-related disease while a whopping 17,000—or 3% of the USPS workforce—have been sent home on quarantine. ..."
"...Despite the United States Postal Service's assurances that employees will be allowed "liberal" sick leave during the coronavirus pandemic, mail carriers say their bosses are making it incredibly difficult for them to take time off. Business Insider spoke..."
"...For your information, per the CDC, options for decisions about return-to-work for individuals with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 include a test-based strategy or a non-test based strategy. The USPS is currently applying the non-test based strategy in the majority of cases..."
"...An Indianapolis man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a a postal worker, authorities said Wednesday..."
"...The president was responding to a question about reports his administration plans to force major changes in postal operations as the price for approving a $10 billion loan...Trump said the changes the administration will insist on will make it a “whole new ballgame” at the Postal Service..."
"...Workers across the country say they’re not being informed when colleagues have tested positive for COVID-19, despite a Postal Service policy to do so. At the end of March, after workers complained, the Postal Service told its employees they would be notified if someone “in your workplace is confirmed to have COVID-19.” But workers at 11 locations told ProPublica they found out about cases through colleagues or were only told by management days after word had already gotten out. “People are scared..."
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"...As we get deeper and deeper into this Coronavirus epidemic postal employees are being forced to work and do overtime upwards of 12 hours a day. As of this present time there have been Upwards of more than 40 confirmed cases of coronavirus with-in the United States Postal Service..."
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"...U.S. Postal Service is facing increased pressure from its 630,000 employees, who are sounding the alarm that they are unprotected and vulnerable as they continue to sort and deliver mail throughout the coronavirus pandemic...added sick leave for anyone who may have contracted the virus, hazard pay for those still at work and suspended service for facilities with vulnerable populations..."
"...To date, 40 postal workers have contracted the virus. Many more are home on mandatory quarantine as they may have come in contact with infected individuals...[USPS] stressed there is no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail..."
"... allowing Sick Leave for Dependent Care, for the next 60-day period, managers and supervisors should allow liberal changes of schedule in recognition of the disruption caused by the COVIDF-19 pandemic.
To the extent operationally practicable, managers and supervisors should accommodate employees who submit PS Form 3189, Request for Temporary Change of Schedule for Personal Convenience as a result of child care issues caused by daycare closures, school (Pre-K through Grade 12) closures or the unavailability of a child’s primary caregiver as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Manager and Supervisors should also allow liberal sick leave usage for employees who are sick, and liberal annual and leave without pay (LWOP) usage to the extent operationally feasible during this time period. If an employee request leave for reasons related to COVID-19, such leave should be treated as scheduled (as opposed to unscheduled) leave. Leave taken for COVID-19 related reasons between February 29, 2020, and May 17, 2020 may not be cited in discipline for failing to maintain an assigned schedule under ELM 511.43.
Memorandum: re USPS issues statement on the MOU on Liberal Changes of Schedule and Leave (pdf)..."
"...“It has become clear that the Postal Service will not survive the summer without immediate help,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney...Based on a number of briefings and warnings this week about a critical fall-off in mail across the country..."
"...Coronavirus RNA survived for up to 17 days aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, living far longer on surfaces than previous research has shown, according to new data published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...RNA, the genetic material of the virus that causes COVID-19, “was identified on a variety of surfaces in cabin..."
"...Many employees within the facility say they are concerned for their health and safety and are not looking forward to returning. "People have families to go home to," says USPS maintenance mechanic..."
"...Recently, the Postal Service informed APWU of a potential breach in testing materials related to Maintenance Selection System Exam 955, stating the following: As a precautionary measure, a temporary hold on Exam 955 test scheduling has been issued until a full investigation has been completed. Individuals currently in process to complete testing will be rescheduled for a later date..."
"...CDC has reported there is very low risk that the coronavirus can be spread from products or packaging shipped from China, due to poor survivability of this type of virus on surfaces. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets, CDC reports. Also, according to CDC, there is no evidence to support transmission of the novel coronavirus associated with imported goods, and there have been no reported cases of the virus in the United States associated with imported goods. The Postal Service is providing this information to employees..."
"...studies show that its cousin viruses, SARS and MERS, only live for few hours on the surface of an object. They are spread most often by respiratory droplets from one person to another. It typically takes at least three days for a package to get from China to California, according to UPS and FedEx. So the virus wouldn’t be able to survive long enough to get you sick..."
"...Freight-forwarder DSV Panalpina (DSV.CO) said on Friday it would start direct cargo flights between Shanghai and Huntsville, Alabama from next week to cope with capacity constraints caused by the coronavirus outbreak in China...Starting on Feb. 25, DSV plans to operate flights between Shanghai and Huntsville thrice weekly using the firm’s Boeing 747-8 freighter plane, it said in a statement. “Due to the risk of spreading of the coronavirus (COVID-19), multiple airlines have either suspended..."
"...The viruses can sometimes survive on indoor surfaces for more than 7 days...Flu viruses capable of being transferred to hands and causing an infection can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses can survive on tissues for only 15 minutes..."