All non-essential businesses are being asked to close as a precaution to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Post offices and postal service will remain open as they are an essential service, but will be implementing safety precautions to protect workers and the public.

Hours of service at post offices will be reduced by opening an hour later and closing an hour earlier to allow staff to clean, restock and to provide some relief to employees.

The first hour of each day they will be offering priority service to those who are at a higher risk like the elderly or people with compromised immune systems. While they are working to keep all post offices open, some may close due to building closures or smaller locations that may close due to personnel reasons.

In these cases, customers will be directed to the nearest operating post office. They are also asking customers to practice safe social distancing and space themselves 2 metres or 6 feet apart and are working on signage and floor decals to help with distancing.

Cash will still be accepted but they are encouraging customers to pay using the “tap” function on their debit or credit cards where possible. Parcel pick up will be changing temporarily and will not be returned-to-sender until further notice if not picked up in the normal 15-day hold period which will be suspended for now. Customers who are feeling ill or self-isolating are asked to delay their visit to the post office and to pick up their parcel when it’s safe to do so.

Parcel delivery is also changing to limit physical contact between customers and workers. Canada Post will be implementing the Knock, Drop and Go approach. Delivery employees will knock or ring the doorbell, choose the safest location available to leave the item and then depart for the next address. This change eliminates the need for signatures at the door and greatly reduces the number of parcels sent to post offices for pick-up.

Items that require Proof of Age, ID or Customs payments will be sent directly from the depots to a retail post office for pick-up with no restrictions on when customers can pick up the item. Customers will receive a delivery notice card in their mail letting them know which post office is holding their item for pickup. At this time the On-time Delivery Guarantees for all parcel services are suspended until further notice.

Lastly, Canada Post asks people to give postal workers space to do their job and practice safe social distancing and limit physical contact with workers. A simple smile and wave through the window to your delivery agent, a supportive thumbs-up to the driver of the Canada Post truck as they go by or patience and a thank you to the person working at the post office all go a very long way these days says Canada Post.