How are post offices doing during the pandemic?

During the holiday season, post offices are at their busiest, delivering gifts all across the country to our loved ones.

However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become difficult to manage the amount of people in the building. Most post offices don't have enough workers to monitor crowding, due to congressional budget cuts and a recent ban on overtime.

According to signs at the post office, indoor capacity is supposed to be limited to 10 people. However, even on a weekday morning, WRAL counted more than 25 people in line at the Garner post office.

"I thought I was coming at an off time, but apparently there isn't an off time," customer Steve Balmer said. He was coming to mail presents to his wife's family.

"I mean, anytime I see a bunch of people in a place, I'm concerned now," Balmer said. "I wasn't deterred by that enough to leave, or come back at another time, or whatever."

And even if he had left and come back, the amount of people in the building might not have changed much. Kanesha Brown has to come to the post office every day for work, and said that there were many people in line everyday.

Philip Bogenberger, USPS’ North Carolina spokesman, sent a statement that pointed to their Covid-19 guidelines when contacted by WRAL. He said he expects people to follow local rules.

Bogenburger added, "We will put up additional signage reminding customers to not exceed capacity inside the Post Office."

Recommendations for sending mail during the pandemic include planning ahead further in advance than usual this year, as the lines are expected to only become longer later in the year.