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"The explosive surge of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has caused
a temporary shortage of available crew members and operational
staff," the company said.
The delivery firm said severe winter storms around the country,
including at its main air hub in Memphis, Tennessee, are posing
challenges and it is implementing contingency plans and
adjusting operations to minimize disruptions.
Severe winter weather and the rapid spread of the highly
transmissible Omicron variant have led to a sharp rise in
infections, forcing several U.S. airlines to cancel flights as
pilots and crew quarantine.
Inadequate staffing and other issues had on Thursday forced the
U.S. Postal Service, one of the largest civilian U.S. employers,
to seek for its 650,000 employees a temporary relief from the
Biden administration's new vaccine or testing requirements
covering large businesses.
U.S. coronavirus deaths have risen by at least 2,133 on Thursday
to 836,901 total versus 834,768 the previous day, according to a
Reuters tally.
(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru)
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