KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There are more than 600,000 U.S. Postal Service employees who, like so many other essential workers, can't work from home.
Receiving your mail is one of the constants in a world constantly changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like many essential businesses, the USPS is making adjustments during this time.
According to a statement from the postal service, millions of masks, gloves and sanitizing products have been made available to workers. Right now, employees are "strongly encouraged" to wear the masks but not required to do so.
The USPS released a video demonstrating some of the changes being implemented, such as carriers knocking on doors instead of ringing bells.
Instead of asking for a signature on packages that normally require it, carriers will ask you for your first initial and last name before setting the package down in a safe place.
It's important to not take your delivery directly from a worker, and be sure to give them enough time to walk away before you collect the package.
Post offices are also taking precautions, including limiting the number of customers inside the facility to 10 or fewer and adding plastic barriers to counters.
The USPS points to guidancefrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and the U.S. Surgeon General, saying there's currently no evidence COVID-19 can be spread through the mail.
The Boston Globe reported 427 out of 630,000 postal workers had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, an online petition calling for hazard pay for USPS employees garnered more than half a million signatures.
