Mail disruption due to Coronavirus
Colombia
The designated operator of Colombia, Servicios Postales Nacionales S.A. 4-72, informs that, through Decree 637 of 6 May 2020, the Colombian government extended mandatory preventative isolation until midnight of 25 May 2020. As an essential service, however, the postal service is currently exempt from restrictions on movement, although this could change in the future.
In addition, Servicios Postales Nacionales S.A. 4-72 wishes to inform other other Union member countries and their designated operators that:
- The previously communicated measures affecting operations will remain in place, and will continue to cause significant delays to all inbound and outbound international letter-post, parcel- post and EMS items. Measures on operational and administrative teleworking and flexible working hours will also remain in place;
- Owing to the continuation of force majeure, the cancellation of international flights and the internal measures taken by countries and their designated operators, Servicios Postales Nacionales S.A. 4-72 is currently unable to send letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items to various member countries. For more information, please go to www.4-72.com.co/content/spn-4-72-coronavirus.
Servicios Postales Nacionales S.A. 4-72 will continue to provide its services under the restrictions caused by this global crisis and with due consideration of the measures necessary to protect its employees and customers.
Djibouti
The designated operator of Djibouti, La Poste de Djibouti S.A., wishes to inform other Union member countries that the government provisionally plans to reopen airports and allow the resumption of passenger flights from 1 September 2020.
Consequently, other Union member countries and their designated operators wishing to send their letter-post, parcel-post or EMS items to Djibouti are asked to use the following cargo flights:
- Qatar Airways QR 8711 from Doha every Tuesday;
- Air France AF 674 from Paris Charles de Gaulle every Thursday.
La Poste de Djibouti is also modifying its mail delivery procedures. A signature is no longer required upon delivery, and items normally requiring a signature will be delivered using methods that minimize direct contact. These measures are being introduced with immediate effect; they aim to reduce the risk of propagation of COVID-19 and protect staff and customers.
French Polynesia
The designated operator of French Polynesia, OPT PF – Farerata, informs other Union member countries and their designated operators that it has resumed all postal services following the full reversal of the lockdown initially implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Domestic flights are gradually being reintroduced and domestic maritime routes are operational for destinations that cannot yet be reached by air.
As international airfreight flights with France have resumed on a weekly basis, OPT PF – Farerat can now guarantee inbound and outbound international mail to and from France.
Maldives
The designated operator of the Maldives, Maldives Post, informs other Union member countries and their designated operators that the Government of the Maldives has decided to extend the sanitary measures, including the full lockdown of the Malé region, until 28 May 2020. The measures include:
- Complete restriction of movement and ban on all vehicle use, including public transport services, during the lockdown period;
- Suspension of work in all government offices until 28 May 2020;
- Suspension of international flights to and from the Maldives until 31 May 2020 (or a later date to be communicated in due course).
Access to postal outlets is subject to restrictions, and steps have been taken to minimize human contact. Maldives Post is suspending the processing of all inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) until 28 May 2020, or a later date to be communicated in due course. Quality of service and delivery standards for all types of inbound and outbound mail fall under the already invoked case of force majeure.
Mauritius
The designated operator of Mauritius, Mauritius Post, informs that the curfew put in place by the government is to be gradually lifted from 15 May 2020 onwards.
All postal services will therefore resume as of 15 May 2020. The acceptance of outbound mail items (letter post, parcel post and EMS) will no longer be subject to restrictions, but their dispatch to overseas destinations will depend on the availability of flights.
Delivery of all postal items will be strictly in line with the national health guidelines laid down by the government. Registered letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items will be delivered against signature, with social distancing measures applied.
However, as quality of service, including delivery times, still cannot be fully guaranteed, Mauritius Post is continuing to invoke force majeure until 1 June 2020.
Nepal
The designated operator of Nepal, Nepal Post, informs that the Government of Nepal has further extended the lockdown until 2 June 2020. This, together with the suspension of all incoming international flights until 31 May 2020 already announced previously, is affecting all postal operations.