Chico Post Office having mail surge with COVID-19 and holiday shopping

COVID-19 is causing an even greater strain on the mail delivery during the holiday season.

Action News Now spoke to postal workers about how they are navigating the challenge.

Of these outbreaks -- has many people shopping*onlin* these days.

Thats right -- but that means -- an even greater strain on mail delivery during the holiday season.

New at 5-30 -- action news now reporter amy lanski shows us a day in the life of a local u-s-p-s worker..

Navigating this new challenge.

Jamie truby "our post master has actually been here since 8:00 o'clock last night, and she is still here, i mean everyone is working hard."

Jamie truby has been working at the post office for 18 years, and says christmas is always crazy.

But not like this.

Jamie "it is ridiculous everyone is working so hard and such long hours to get everyone their parcels and get them their mail monday through saturday."

Amy: "to show how busy the postal workers are this season truby explained this carrier left on her route at about 7:30 this morning.

With only the large pacakges she could fit in her postal vehicle.

So later she has to come back and get these smaller packages and the letter mail."

Shawna reynolds "people are afraid to leave their houses or they have been ordered to stay home, and so they order from all the big carriers that deliver to their homes.

So we deliver those packages and it is like christmas before chrsitmas then you add christmas on top of that and it is exciting and fun."

Shawna reynolds is another highway contract carrier for the postal service.

Shawna: "we wear masks, we do not deliever to doors, we stay six feet away if someone is there.

If we do a certified letter we knock and step back and show the person we signed for them, we don't let them touch our computer thing."

Reynolds says the postal service gives them gloves, sanitizer, and wipes for their vehicles.

"covid is not going to stop the mail.

I mean that's that.

Period.

The mail goes on.

Rain.

Sleet.

Snow... covid..

We got you!"

But you might not get your delivery as quickly as you want it.

Shawna: "everybody is impacted by it, the volume of it.

It is just too much for us and other companies to deliver exactly a day or two or three."

Jamie: "everyone needs to be patient, it is nobody's fault, but it's the world we live in right now."

Reporting from chico.

Amy lanski action news now coverage you can count on.

Both women also advised shoppers to track their packages they are waiting for... and even if a company says next day delivery there might