The United States Postal Service is sending international shipments by sea, effective April 20, 2020, due to COVID-19 flight cancelations. The first shipment is scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on May 7, 2020, and will effect deliveries to Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
As of March 26, 2020, the following interruptions are in place due to the respective containment policies of various countries.
We expect this to have an impact on all international deliveries, including Locus, which for the moment is still being printed and shipped. All of our international subscribers should have access to digital issues with their subscription already. If you do not, please email us at locus@locusmag.com so we can make sure you have access. If our international shipper cannot deliver Locus because of your country’s postal quarantine, we will do our best to fulfill the deliveries once the COVID-19 containment is over.
From our international shipper, RR Donnelly and other sources:
Belarus
Belarus’ post advises it is currently unable to send mail to a number of countries due to suspension of flights and various measures taken by other nations. Additionally, it can no longer guarantee service delivery standards with designated operators and any interested parties. Customers should expect major impacts on quality of service for all types of inbound and outbound mail. As far as possible, international and domestic operations will be continued on a regular basis.
Bhutan
Bhutan Post advises customers it is experiencing significant disruption to its daily operations as a result of measures to minimize spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and difficulties in airline and other transportation. This is having a direct impact on service quality for international inbound and outbound services, and customers should expect severe delays until normal transport capacity becomes available. Bhutan Post is declaring a situation of force majeure in relation to all international mail services as a result of the global spread of COVID-19.
Canada
Canada Post advises that additional measures are being taken in response to spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In order to eliminate interaction with customers at their doorstep and in accordance with physical distancing requirements, Canada Post has implemented revised delivery procedures. Inbound items from the U.S. requiring payment of customs duties and taxes will be sent from our depots to a retail post office for collection. Customers will receive a delivery notice card telling them which post office is holding their item. All other items that would ordinarily require a signature will be left in a safe location without obtaining a signature from the recipient. This change eliminates the need for signature at the doorstep and greatly reduces the number of parcels sent to Canada Post offices for collection.
Canada Post will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and will actively follow the guidance and safety recommendations issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands Postal Service is suspending all operations due to measures taken to reduce spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The government has directed that all but essential workers remain at home through April 6 in addition to a nightly curfew.
Chad
Chad’s post advises that it is no longer able to send postal items to other designated operators or receive postal items from them until further notice. This is due to government measures aimed at minimizing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), including closure of land borders and suspension of all flights, except for cargo, until further notice.
Chile
Chile’s post is unable to accept or dispatch outbound international mail due to suspension of flights from Chile and the resulting lack of transportation. It is monitoring the situation and will adopt corrective measures as the situation evolves.
Estonia
Estonian Post advises due to a government-declared state of emergency until May 1 it considers the situation as a case of force majeure. Customers should expect some temporary changes to services. Flights to most countries have been interrupted and shipments to some countries have been temporarily suspended. Estonian Post is trying to find alternatives wherever possible but expects major impacts on operations and quality of service. Estonian Post has suspended signature on delivery for inbound items requiring proof of delivery in order to avoid human contact. Registered items will be delivered to mailboxes where possible. In case of delivery to the person, the courier will enter the receiver’s name on the handheld device but with the word “Courier” in place of the signature. Parcels will still be delivered to the addressee but in place of the signature there will be an image of an address card, which the recipient will first be asked to sign.
France
La Poste advises that all its offices of exchange will be closed on March 25 and March 28-30. Delivery of express mail service items will continue but could be subject to delays.
Honduras
Honduras’ post advises the entire territory is in lockdown at least until March 29 to reduce spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and has suspended postal service until then, or a later date if extended. The post is asking countries to suspend sending mail to Honduras by air cargo flights although exceptions will be made for humanitarian aid. Likewise, the post asks to be excused from delivery time requirements and compensation for late delivery of postal items until its normal operations resume.
India: The Department of Posts (India Post) has advised that owing to the suspension of air and rail services, and various other extraordinary measures taken by the Government of India, India Post has suspended all international mail exchanges until further notice. The postal service is being maintained as an essential service: domestic mail exchanges are continuing, and all international mail received before March 22, 2020 are being delivered with limited staff. India Post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s post advises that there are disruptions in operations for all outbound and inbound mail due to commercial flight limitations and other measures to minimize spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Delivery standards cannot be guaranteed, addressee signature on delivery of inbound items has been suspended, and a situation of force majeure has been declared until the situation returns to normal.
Israel
Israel Postal Company advises it will continue to process incoming and outgoing mail, giving priority to premium services such as express mail service and PRIME, and will make every effort to ensure regular distribution of mail. However, due to government restrictions to minimize spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards with designated operators and any interested third parties and is invoking force majeure with respect to any such standards. Additionally, a signature is no longer required for items requiring signature on delivery, and such items will be left at the door after being scanned and photographed to prove that delivery has been made. If possible, the name of the addressee will be recorded.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast’s post advises that it is no longer able to deliver postal items due to measures aimed at curbing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) including the closure of the international airport.
Jamaica
Jamaica Post advises that it is currently only able to dispatch outbound mail directly to Miami, for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, and to Trinidad and Tobago. Mail dispatches for other destinations in the Caribbean region and in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and South America are suspended. This is due to significantly reduced air transport options and border restrictions associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, with the exception of mail destined to the United States or Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica Post is suspending transit services for all mail classes and declaring a situation of force majeure.
Luxembourg
Post Luxembourg advises international and domestic operations will continue as normal insofar as possible. However, several measures have been implemented to ensure safety of both customers and staff. In general, post offices will remain open (with some exceptions) but will be closed on Saturdays. For mail items requiring signature on delivery, the addressee’s signature will be replaced by the postal carrier’s signature, together with the delivery code, in the signature field. Post Luxembourg is no longer able to guarantee delivery times or comply with standard rules for signature on delivery.
Madagascar
Madagascar’s post advises that customers should expect severe impacts on postal operations due to measures aimed at preventing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Until further notice, post offices will be providing minimum service and delivery of mail is suspended. The post is no longer able to guarantee quality of service for all categories of inbound and outbound mail, in particular with regard to compliance with export and delivery standards for letters and express mail service items.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s post advises customers to expect delays in processing, transportation and delivery of both incoming and outgoing international mail due to suspension of services, flight cancellations, airport shutdowns, and implementation of preventative measures to reduce the risk of spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
All outbound airmail items to the following countries are expected to be severely delayed: Austria, Belgium, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Canada and United States. For inbound mail deliveries, items requiring signature on delivery will no longer be signed for at the moment of handover to the recipient. Instead, the postal employee will ask for the recipient’s name and enter this information in the signature field of the handheld device or delivery manifest.
A situation of force majeure in relation to all international mail is declared due to COVID-19 and its effects on postal services worldwide until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
Maldives UPDATE: Maldives Post has advised that the government of Maldives has decided to extend the measures adopted as a precaution against the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Maldives Post is suspending the processing of all inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) from March 19, 2020 through April 4, 2020. This will have a major impact on operations and, consequently, on quality of service for all types of mail. The disruption is expected to continue until the epidemic is over. Consequently, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed, and a situation of force majeure has been declared.
Mongolia
Mongol Post advises customers that all international flights to and from Ulaanbaatar are suspended until April 30. The international mail processing center will remain closed until April 1. This closure may be extended.
Montenegro
Montenegro Post advises that it is suspending inbound and outbound postal traffic until further notice due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s post advises access to postal outlets is subject to restrictions due to a 14-day government lockdown beginning March 24 as a precaution against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Processing of all inbound and outbound mail will be subject to restrictions. This is expected to remain the case until the end of the pandemic. These measures will impact the post’s ability to maintain its sorting and delivery operations. For this reason, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed and the post is invoking a situation of force majeure with regard to quality of service until the situation returns to normal.
Philippines
Philippine Postal Corporation advises that international air and sea transport from and to international airports and seaports throughout the Philippines will remain operational during a community quarantine. However, domestic air, land and sea transport is suspended for the duration of the community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon island, and several areas of the Visayas and Mindanao islands. The community quarantine, in effect through April 12, will impact operations. Delays to inbound and outbound postal items are expected during the community quarantine period.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia Postal Service is currently operating with reduced hours, reduced personnel and fewer sub-offices in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This response plan will affect processing of inbound and outbound mail as well as timely replies to queries.
Samoa
Samoa Post advises that it will be closed from March 26 until further notice and no inbound or outbound mail will be processed during this period. Samoa has closed its borders and suspended all flights in and out of the country in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Senegal
Senegal’s post advises due to measures to close the borders and restrict travel, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, significant impact on shipment and delivery times for mail and parcels is expected. Consequently, a situation of force majeure is invoked with regard to quality of service.
Slovakia
Slovakia’s post advises it has issued a “stay at home order” for support staff, requiring them to work remotely from their homes and restricting their access to their normal place of work. This measure is in force until further notice. All inquiries about mail, including those handled electronically, could be disrupted. Special processes have been put in place for some deliveries. Parcels that would ordinarily require the addressee’s signature can now be deposited in parcel terminals. Delivery of registered items is suspended and customers will only be notified.
Additionally, due to the suspension of flights, the post is unable to send mail items to an increasing number of countries both within and outside the European Union. As a temporary measure, it will no longer accept mail for destinations to which transport capacities are unavailable. Consequently, a situation of force majeure is invoked until the situation has returned to normal.
South Africa
South African Post advises that exchanges of both inbound and outbound mail are currently blocked due to suspension of many flights as part of measures taken to curb rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All post offices nationwide will be closed while the country is on lockdown, and all mail classes will be delayed. A situation of force majeure situation is invoked until April 17 or until further notice.
Spain
Spain’s post is currently unable to send mail to an increasing number of countries both within and outside the European Union due to the suspension of flights and lack of transport capacity. As a result, it can no longer accept letters and parcels for destinations to which transport capacity is unavailable. A situation of force majeure is declared and Spain’s post has stopped accepting these mail items until sufficient transport capacity becomes available. Customers should anticipate major impacts on operations and, consequently, on quality of service for all types of inbound and outbound mail.
Switzerland
Swiss Post has changed it delivery process for all items requiring signature on delivery to minimize spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Swiss Government. Mail requiring signature on delivery will not be signed for by the recipient. In place of the recipient’s signature, the delivery agent will enter a code in the signature field of the handheld device. This temporary measure will apply until further notice. Swiss Post is no longer able to guarantee inbound and outbound mail standards, and is therefore invoking a situation of force majeure with regard to quality of service and remuneration for all categories of mail items until further notice.
Turkey
Turkey’s post advises it expects major impacts on operations and, consequently, on quality of service for all types of inbound mail because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For this reason, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed and a situation of force majeure has been declared until the situation returns to normal.
Ukraine
Ukraine’s post advises customers to expect delays in the delivery of all inbound mail. Severe delays are also to be expected for outbound mail to all destinations as a result of flight suspensions. A situation of force majeure is declared until sufficient transport capacity becomes available. National and international operational centers remain open and continue to operate. In order to minimize human contact, indirect methods will be implemented temporarily for the delivery of mail items that would ordinarily require the addressee’s signature on delivery. Written proof of delivery is temporarily suspended under these special circumstances.
United Arab Emirates
Emirates Post advises that it is required to take strict measures aimed at minimizing human contact during both sorting and delivery. This will impact operations and, consequently, quality of service for all types of inbound and outbound mail at least until April 2. For this reason, service delivery standards cannot currently be guaranteed. Although Emirates Post is committed to keeping its international mail processing centers, domestic sorting centers and delivery network open and operational, a number of special provisions are being implemented. While airports remain open, passenger flights to and from the UAE have been suspended. The delivery of international mail will be subject to potential delays until the situation returns to normal. As a result, Emirates Post is unable to offer various services.
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Posts (Pvt) Ltd. (Zimpost) has advised that, following the suspension of flights into and out of Zimbabwe by its partner airlines, it has suspended all inbound and outbound international mail operations effective March 19, 2020 until further notice. Zimpost is therefore declaring a force majeure situation. It is unable to guarantee inbound and outbound mail standards.
