ADVISORY ALERTS

Thailand Post advises that the government has extended by two months a nationwide state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic, effective through May 31. This may have impacts on mail processing for international inbound and outbound items and on agreed service delivery standards. The post is therefore unable to guarantee compliance with agreed standards.

China Post advises that to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 the processing of inbound mail is temporarily affected at Shanghai, Changchun and Yanji mail processing centers until further notice. Inbound mail received by these offices of exchange cannot be processed or transported to sorting centers/delivery offices. This delays processing, transiting and delivery of inbound mail, as well as updating of electronic messages and responses to online customer inquiries.

Spain’s post advises that a transport stoppage has been affecting the movement of mail since March 14. There also may be some delays on mainland road routes and mixed routes (road and ship) to the Canary and Balearic islands.

China Post has advised that a two-phase lockdown has been imposed in Shanghai International Airport to contain a resurgent outbreak of COVID. This lockdown is expected to last for between 4-6 days resulting in delays in processing mail and onward delivery. More information will follow once we receive an update on the situation.

Latvian Post has advised that the situation arising from a significant increase in COVID-19 cases among staff members has come to an end. As a result, its postal operations have returned to normal.

Jamaica Post has advised that the Government of Jamaica has lifted the national curfew with effect from Friday, 18th March 2022.

Poste Italiane advises that the backlog of items held in Italian customs has been cleared and that delays are no longer being experienced in the processing of postal items. To ensure that your items can continue to be processed without delays, please provide full and accurate data before posting your items.

Thailand Post has updated that the rain in the southern part of Thailand has ceased, and postal services are back to normal as of 7 March 2022.

Ukraine Post advises that some post offices across various regions will continue to be open on a limited basis so customers can receive mail and parcels. The post also advises countries to send their international postal items to Ukraine via Poland, Slovakia or Latvia. The post will be collecting the consignments from those countries.

Thailand Post advises that continuing rain in the southern part of the country has caused floods in the provinces of Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat (postcodes 90210, 94XXX and 96XXX). Blocked roads are leading to delays in transporting and delivering mail and customers are facing difficulties accessing postal services in these areas.

Samoa Post has updated that the Government of Samoa has extended the state of emergency until 28 March 2022. There is still only one flight per week to and from New Zealand on which Samoa Post can send and receive mail. Furthermore, all inbound mail is subject to a three-days quarantine before being processed and delivered. As result, Samoa Post has advised that delays are to be expected.

Moldova Post advises that Moldovan airspace is temporarily restricted for civilian air transportation because of the situation in Ukraine. The post is working with its postal partners on alternative surface transportation routes. It is continuing to receive, process and deliver inbound and outbound postal items, and all post offices are fully operational.

The Postal Service received notification though the Universal Postal Union (UPU) of a recent change in the designated postal operator in Ecuador. This has resulted in significant delays on all items received in Ecuador as of October 2021. The new postal operator is managing the items in the order received and processing them as quickly as possible.

Australia Post advises that there are disruptions to its daily operations, in particular in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, because of severe storms, heavy rain and flooding across the country. Processing and delivery of inbound and outbound mail items are affected. As a result of road closures and access issues, implementation of safety measures and closure of several post offices, delivery to certain postcodes is limited in flood-affected areas. The list of affected postcodes areas is updated daily and is available on Australia Post’s website at auspost.com.au/service-updates/domestic-service-updates/queensland-flooding.

VNPost, has informed that its operations are currently disrupted by a large number of employees having contracted COVID-19. As a result, until further notice, the processing and delivery of all types of inbound and outbound mail will be impacted.

Ukrainian airspace is temporarily restricted for civilian air transportation. Consequently, Ukrposhta is working with its postal partners in Europe on alternative surface transportation routes. Ukrposhta has already made arrangements with the designated operators of Latvia, Poland and Slovakia for the exchange of international postal items sent to or from Ukraine through their respective offices of exchange located close to the Ukrainian border. Ukrposhta therefore requests that the designated operators of other Union member countries send any postal items addressed to Ukraine to Latvia, Poland or Slovakia. Ukrposhta will then collect these postal items using its own vehicles. Moreover, in order to keep customers and employees safe, Ukrposhta post offices will remain closed on Thursday, 24 February 2022, and postal deliveries are suspended until further notice. As soon as the situation allows, Ukrposhta will immediately resume delivery of all international postal items, as well as pensions and money orders.

Vanuatu Post has updated that the Government has lifted the state of emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A state of health emergency is now in place, but postal operations have resumed as normal.

Latvian Post has informed that due to a significant increase in COVID-19 infections among its operational staff there has been temporary closures of several post offices. As result, delays are to be expected in the processing and delivery of all mail items until further notice.

Post NL has informed that due to Storm Eunice, there are severe disruption to flights, ferries and road transport. Public transport has been suspended since 14:00 on 18th Feb with people strongly advised not to travel. So consequently, mail processing personnel are not able to attend processing centres. Extra processing capacity have been arranged over the weekend to deal with possible backlogs, however disruption to mail operation is likely until early next week.

Madagascan Post has updated that cyclone Batsirai has passed. As result, postal operations and domestic flights have resumed from 10 February 2022.

Jamaica Post advises that the government has extended a national curfew until Feb. 25. As a result, revised working shifts/hours will continue to apply across the postal network, affecting sorting operations, mail delivery and dispatch of mail vans, as well as timely messaging updates and responses to online customer inquiries. A force majeure continues with an impact on quality of service for all types of mail.

Barbados Post has updated that the curfew has been lifted with effect from 14 February 2022 with Postal services returned to normal.

Portugal Post has informed that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, the state of calamity announced by the Government of Portugal continues to apply throughout the country. Portugal is experiencing a fifth wave of the pandemic with high rate of infections, resulted in high rate of absence and, consequently, disruption to the provision of services. Portugal Post continues to provide postal services in line with public health guidelines and restrictions but unable to guarantee compliance with the agreed standards, with an impact on quality of service for all mail types.

Madagascar Post advises that the country is experiencing cyclone conditions with impacts to its operations. Domestic flights are canceled Feb. 4-5. Post offices will have limited hours of operation on Feb. 4 and will be closed on Feb. 5. This will disrupt transport and processing of inbound and outbound mail as well as delay deliveries.

Hongkong Post has advised that due to the current pandemic situation, all airmail center staff have been required to undergo multiple COVID-19 tests beginning Feb. 6 and to work from home until they receive a negative test result. Consequently, operations at airmail centers have been severely affected, with functions reduced to a minimal level only. The processing and transportation of all inbound and outbound mail have been disrupted. Quality of service for all types of mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items), as well as inbound mail delivery services, will be affected until further notice.