Hundreds of USPS workers have tested positive for the coronavirus, but it still may be safer to get postal mail than an Amazon package
Hundreds of cases of COVID-19 have been reported within the US Postal Service, and thousands of employees have had to self-quarantine, so some people may be concerned about contracting the coronavirus from a contaminated piece of mail.
Story continuesBoth experts said that a large number of cases among postal workers — though a serious problem in its own right — likely doesn't pose a public-health risk as far as getting the virus from a piece of mail. Recent studies, along with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, back up their claims.
"We had people touch all kinds of surfaces with viruses on them, and paper was probably the least worrying of the whole group," Gerba said, referring to his past research."There was only about 1-2% transfer of any viruses from touching the surface, whereas a stainless steel door knob or push plate, or a smooth plastic surface, is about 70%."
A USPS letter carrier delivers mail as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States on March 18, 2020 in New York City.Not only is paper an inhospitable environment for viruses in terms of their lifespan and rate of transfer, the material can actually kill the organism itself, according to Gerba. Paper is absorbent, so it draws moisture out of the virus"like a paper towel," desiccating it, Gerba said.
So, at least theoretically speaking, there may be an increased likelihood for a package or a plastic mailer from Amazon, for instance, to harbor the virus and transmit it to a mail recipient, as compared with regular paper mail. At least 74 Amazon facilities have reported cases of the COVID-19, and on Tuesday Amazon had its first warehouse-worker death from the virus.
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