A total of nine test positive for COVID-19 at Puyallup’s South Hill Post Office
The South Hill Post Office in Puyallup has a COVID-19 outbreak of positive cases with nine employees confirmed to have the coronavirus, the United States Postal Services confirmed Friday.
The nine people are not currently working, spokesperson Ernie Swanson said.
Those isolated include five letter carriers, three clerks and one supervisor, Swanson said.
The post office on Meridian East in Puyallup remains open. Employees from other offices have been brought in to the South Hill office.
“Employees at South Hill are also working overtime,” Swanson said.
There are plastic-glass “screens” at the retail counter between staff and customers. The South Hill Post Office added marks on the floor in the lobby area to encourage six-feet apart distancing while in line. If lobbies get full, customers must line up outside with social distancing, Swanson said.
The first three workers tested positive on or about July 15 and have been quarantined at home since. They are due to return to work early in August if they get medical clearance, Swanson said.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is a very low likelihood of spreading the virus through contact with the mail because the virus spreads through respiratory droplets.
Puyallup resident Chris Chisholm said he is worried about staff and customers.
“It’s getting really concerning,” he said.
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 2:15 PM.
