Postal workers in NYS will have the option to wear a mask or face covering, but are not required to.
According to Karen Mazurkiewicz, Strategic Communications/USPS-Central PA & WNY Districts, the United States Postal Service employees are not required to wear masks because the Postal Service is a federal entity and, as such, is not subject to state or local orders.
An executive order, signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, requires essential businesses to provide cloth or surgical masks for their employees and goes into effect in three days.
The order may be enforced by local governments and local law enforcement under Public Health Law.
The Postal Service is adhering to the CDC Guidelines below.
Statement on additional CDC guidance
Throughout the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the United States Postal Service has continued to fulfill its critical mission to bind the nation together by providing an essential service to our nation. Postal Service employees are working hard across the country to ensure we are there for our customers every day, serving as a lifeline for millions of people.
As we continue to perform our vital service for America’s people and businesses, the safety and wellness of our employees remains of primary importance to the Postal Service. We continue to follow the strategies and measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and we have adjusted our practices based upon their evolving guidance.
CDC now recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
We are strongly encouraging all of our employees to follow CDC’s recommendation, but we are not making face coverings mandatory consistent with CDC guidance. We also are continuing to provide masks if employees request them, and are also allowing employees to use their own personal cloth face coverings while on duty if they prefer.
We also are encouraging our employees to adhere to social distancing guidelines (6 feet) whenever possible while on delivery routes, at retail counters, and within the postal workplace: in plants, on docks, and in lunch and break rooms.
In addition to social distancing, we continue to follow all of the other recommended CDC prevention methods.
So, are you saying that as of July 23, 2020 New York state postal employees are NOT required to wear masks even though New York State Postal service customers ARE required to wear masks? In every other place of business in New York State the employees wear masks to help protect the health of their customers. I am disgusted by the lack of concern for my health and the health of my neighbors since the USPS employees in our local post office do not wear masks.
I would like to know if my local Post Office in Bayside Queens allows customers to come in without masks on. I was quite shocked to see that, and felt very uncomfortable, although I am vaccinated and have my booster. The Postal Worker taking my package was not wearing a mask either. What are the current rules?
I have been using this Post Office for 35 years, it is small, and people are in close proximity.
I thought both workers and patrons needed to mask up.
With the new strains of the virus on our doorstep, we should be looking to protect everyone.