Service Alerts

The United States Postal Service is closely monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation and continues to follow strategies and measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health departments. The CDC has information available on its website at https://www.coronavirus.gov that provides the latest information about COVID-19. We are sharing the CDC’s guidance to our employees via stand-up talks, employee news articles, messages on bulletin boards, videos and an intranet site directly to employees and within USPS workplaces.

The CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html), the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses), and the Surgeon General have indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail.  

The Postal Service has so far experienced only minor operational impacts in the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We do continue to have a temporary suspension of the guarantee on Priority Mail Express International destined for China and Hong Kong, which has been effective since Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, due to widespread airline cancellations and restrictions into this area. In addition, customers may see delays in mail and packages destined to China as well as from China, as well as to and from European countries subject to restricted passenger airline travel. The Postal Service is undertaking all reasonable measures to minimize the impact to our customers.

In addition, the Postal Service is an essential service for purposes of its compliance with state or municipality shelter-in-place orders or other social distancing restrictions. The Postal Service delivers medications, social security checks, and is the leading delivery service for on-line purchases. The statute that created the Postal Service begins with the following sentence. “The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by an Act of Congress, and supported by the people.” 39 U.S.C. §101(a).

For more information, see the USPS Coronavirus Statement.

USPS Continuity of Operations Updates:

• International Service Impact — Alternate Transport: Fourth Air to Sea Diversion in Effect (June 1, 2020)
• Military and Diplomatic Mail (APO/FPO/DPO) Service Disruptions (May 20, 2020)
• International Service Impact – Alternate Transport: Third Air to Sea Diversion in Effect (May 15, 2020)
• Handling mail for temporarily closed businesses – Hold Mail extended through May 30, 2020 (April 30, 2020)
• International Service Impact – Alternate Transport: Second Air to Sea Diversion in Effect (April 29, 2020)
• International Service Impact – Alternate Transportation: Air to Sea Diversion in Effect (April 23, 2020)
• Links for the Most Current Information and Answers to Your Questions (April 21, 2020)
• Expected Delivery Changes for Priority Mail and First-Class Package Services (April 17, 2020)
• Refunds for Items to International Countries where Service Has Been Suspended (April 16, 2020)
• Mail Delivery Return to Sender Timeframe Extension (April 14, 2020)
• Mailability of Hand Sanitizer Update (April 14, 2020)
• Help Desk Contingencies (April 9, 2020)
• Diplomatic Mail (April 9, 2020)
• Mailability of Hand Sanitizer Update (April 7, 2020)
• Help Us Serve You (Retail and Carrier Safety) – Videos Available for Your Use (April 6, 2020)
• Media Statement COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)
• CASS Cycle O – Delayed Due to COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)
• Effects on Requalification Efforts for Periodicals (April 2, 2020)
• Detached Mail Unit (DMU) Health Screening – Requests for Bulk Mail Techs/Clerks (April 1, 2020)
• Policy for Customers Requiring Visitor Medical Screenings for Letter Carriers (March 31, 2020)
• Business Closed – Hold Mail (March 28, 2020)
• Safety of the Mail (March 23, 2020)
• USPS and Mail Supply Chain Essential Government Services (March 23, 2020)
• Customer Signature Service COVID-19 Response and Prevention (March 20, 2020)
• USPS Continuity of Operations Update (March 19, 2020)
• Monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (March 18, 2020)