The Postal Service no longer requires employees and contractors who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to wear face coverings, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
The updated face covering policy, announced July 16, aligns with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
USPS employees and contractors who have not been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are still required to wear face coverings in any situation in which they cannot achieve or maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing.
They must also wear face coverings in public-facing settings where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
According to the new guidance from the CDC and OSHA, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks or more after they have completed their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The Postal Service does not require supporting verification of COVID-19 vaccination status, and managers and supervisors should not request this information.
The Postal Service encourages employees to continue to take precautions — including washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds — to prevent the spread of the virus. Also, employees may continue to voluntarily wear face coverings, if they would like to do so.
The Postal Service will distribute a stand-up talk for managers and supervisors to announce the new face covering policy to employees.
