U.S. Postal Service Response to LTC COVID-19 Prevention Screening

We have had a number of questions about COVID-19 screening of postal workers before they enter senior housing settings to deliver mail.

Since March 2020, the USPS has taken the position described below. We encourage providers to work with their local USPS to coordinate a strategy that works in your area.

In the USPS Industry Alert COVID-19: Policy for Customers Requiring Visitor Medical Screenings for Letter Carriers, the official statement says: While we understand customers’ desire to screen individuals entering their facilities, we cannot require our letter carriers to comply with such requests. Our carriers have privacy protections under Federal laws – such as the Privacy Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) – that may be violated if we require a carrier to be subjected to precautionary screenings by customers.”  It ends by encouraging facilities to contact their local Post Office to discuss alternatives with local management.

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