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CNN Live At Daybreak

Postal Service Reacts to Anthrax Deaths and Scare

Aired October 25, 2001 - 06:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And at a ceremony at the Capitol, the U.S. Postal Service unveils its new United We Stand postage stamp, dedicated to American unity against terrorism, it depicts the stars and stripes there you see rippling in a breeze.

The new stamp is already available in a few areas like New York and Washington -- good choices to start there, and it'll be available nationwide by November 5th.

KAGAN: After you stick that new stamp on a letter, it can go through thousands and thousands of hands -- hands that now are at a risk of anthrax contamination.

CNN's Ann Kellan has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If something comes in from Boston we're the first to take it off.

ANN KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And these U.S. postal workers are the first to touch it. They're the mail handlers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We basically dig into the tubs of mail. We're always moving the mail.

KELLAN: We took these pictures of a mail processing back room a week ago. This area is now off limits to cameras. Security is tight since the anthrax deaths of two mail handlers in Washington, D.C. and employees everywhere are on edge.

THOMAS JEFFREY, MAILHANDLER: I come to work. I think I'm more -- try to be more alert of everything that's going on around me.

KELLAN: They're told to take more time checking suspicious packages.

BOB CANNON, U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SPOKESMAN: Is there any buzzing, ticking, and whirring? Is it making any noise? Is there any metallic odor coming from a piece of mail and these days, obviously, is there any powdery substance on the package or envelope or coming from it.

JEFFREY: We now look to see if we see any dust or see anything other suspicious.

KELLAN: Hoaxes and false alarms have slowed mail processing, especially when soap samples go through.

CANNON: The ones in the bottom of the hamper are going to leak a little bit of detergent. We've had to evacuate whole mail processing centers because of this -- because of baking soda, because of corn starch, because of talcum powder, baby powder. I mean -- but nothing, you know, nothing compares with two -- two people dying.

KELLAN: These mail sorters in Cambridge, Massachusetts have always worn protective gloves and don't think the masks offered to them by the post office would do much good to ward off anthrax. At this post office, none of the clerks wore them either.

(on camera): Even though the U.S. post office is offering protective gear, the Union representing the window clerks is urging its members not to wear the masks and gloves. It portrays the wrong image to the public, it says and washing hands is more effective.

(voice-over): Are you afraid?

JEFFREY: Yes and no. I mean yes, I'm afraid -- I mean you hear about two people that have passed away. So you know it's possible, and yeah, knowing that -- I mean I'm not going to stop to do -- I'm not going to stop doing my job.

KELLAN: The postal service says mail delivery remains on schedule because there is less mail to deliver. The volume has dropped dramatically by more than a quarter since the anthrax attacks began.

Ann Kellan, CNN, Boston.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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