Exton postal employee dies of COVID-19

The coronavirus has hit home.

An employee at the Exton Post Office recently died after reportedly suffering from COVID-19 symptoms.

A spokesman reported that under the Rehabilitation Act and the Privacy Act, specific employee medical information must be kept confidential, may only be shared in very limited circumstances and the Postal Service cannot share the name of the employee.

“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the passing of one of our postal family members in Exton,” according to a Saturday statement from spokesman Raymond V. Daiutolo Sr. “The employee was a dedicated public servant, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time.”

The Exton Post Office was recently partially closed and now the virus has impacted the West Chester Post Office.

The U.S. Postal Service learned on April 9 that employees at the West Chester Post Office tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease, according to Daiutolo.

“The safety and well-being of our employees is one of our highest priorities,” Daiutolo said. “To ensure the health of our employees, we are continuing to follow recommended strategies from the CDC. We also continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation on a nationwide basis.”

Picking up your mail is still safe, officials said.

“Both the CDC (https://www. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq. html) and the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/newsroom/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses) have indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can spread through the mail,” Daiutolo said. “In addition, both the Surgeon General and the Director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases have indicated that there is currently no evidence that the coronavirus is being spread through the mail.”