OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Over the weekend 3 News Now received a tip that companies such as FedEx and UPS were getting stacked up with undeliverable packages meant for businesses who have closed its doors due to coronavirus. Across Omaha, stores told 3 News Now they’re not currently overflowing with boxes yet.
“People are picking up their mail,” said Sanket Patel at The Mailroom on 108th Street in Omaha. “Right now people are also scared about touching the mail.”
As a place that sends out and receives mail and packages, The Mailroom is considered an essential business by the government so it is remaining open during the coronavirus pandemic. At the store, customers can ship boxes or pick up mail and packages. Patel said some boxes haven’t been picked up recently.
“There are a couple of boxes that I would say are overflowed right now,” Patel said.
At the store, Patel said the majority of the boxes are returns that were intended for stores such as Kohl’s that aren’t open but some boxes have been behind the counter for a little while.
“It’s been a week,” Patel said. “It’s not all, some came in today but a lot are from last week that have not been picked up by people as well.”
In a statement to 3 News Now UPS said they’re working with customers to establish alternate delivery locations to avoid contact if their business is closed.
“I do think that it is something that the country needs to deal with rather quickly,” said Joseph Lord, an attorney in Omaha when discussing the importance of delivery stores and post offices. “If the post office shuts down or the UPS shuts down then essentially the country quits.”
Lord said he relies on delivery stores for his job.
“If we don’t send something out it could be the client’s livelihood at stake,” Lord said. “It would be hugely detrimental, we’d miss out on the next thing we have to do for clients.”
Another issue people are worrying about is the safety of interacting with a delivery person. In the statement provided to 3 News Now, UPS said the majority of deliveries don’t require a signature and if they do, the drivers can leave the delivery at a safe social distance and verify the recipient with a valid governmental ID.
Watch reporter Phil Bergman’s story in the above video.