Let's all hope the virus does not spread through the Postal Service.

[shockey80]

I used to work for the post office. For decades they madly gutted the workforce. I can't even explain how insane it was, what they did to the workers.

If a lot of postal workers get sick at the same time they cannot be replaced. When I started working at the post office there were a lot of part time workers who could fill in when workers got sick or hurt. When I left, they didn't have enough workers to cover one sick call. Carriers were delivering their routes, then when they returned to the office they were forced to go back out and deliver parts of other routes. It was fucking insane.

I remember one day after I delivered my route, I was forced back out to deliver part of a route I did not know, in the dark, during a snowstorm. I thought I was going to get hit by a car because you could only walk in the plowed roads. Walking in the dark, in the road, during a snow storm. All because they gutted the work force.

Take my word for it, the postal service does not just deliver junk mail. They still deliver tons of very important mail and they also deliver medicine across the entire country, a lot of medicine.

[Historic NY]

1. They better step up their game with sanitizing...

both the equipment at the counters and the employees handling

[dewsgirl]

2. We would be in serious trouble without them. Not that we aren't already,

but that would definitely compound things.

[UpInArms]

3. They need to take precautions.... gloves/masks

Package handling could become a way to spread the virus

[Leghorn21]

4. Yeah, one of my first thoughts when this Sick started was hey, would the USPS be affected?

Well - hell yes, they are In The MIX, as are UPS/Fed Ex folks...

Ultimately, I guess my attitude is, “take nothing for granted” (and wish all our carriers the best of health!)

[beachbumbob]

5. no one will be exempt from a virus as it only takes ONE mishap. Remember, that 80% of those

who get it DO NOT get severely ill at all. We can still have a "functioning" economy BUT NEED leadership to safeguard food supplies and limits on what can be bought. So far, nothing but "volunteer" limits set by SOME stores. This needs to be nation wide

[drmeow]

6. I HATE what the Republicans

have done to the Post Office. It is the single most democratic institution in this country. Everyone - EVERYONE - can mail a letter for the exact same amount and EVERYONE gets their mail delivered for the cost of that stamp.

[mcar]

7. I've been yelling "thank you"

to my USPS delivery people this last week. I hope they are taking every precaution.