Albania
The designated operator of Albania, Albanian Post, wishes to inform that the Albanian Government has now declared the state of emergency to be over, but is continuing to enforce measures aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
As several international airlines have resumed flights to and from Albania, Albanian Post’s operations are returning to normal. However, transport capacity remains variable and the list of destination countries is very fluid and liable to change from day to day.
There are still a small number of countries to which Albanian Post is unable to transport mail and parcels, and it will not accept postal items destined for those countries until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
Although the force majeure situation remains in place, Albanian Post is endeavouring to meet delivery standards (including delivery time and other quality parameters) for letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items applicable under UPU.
Ghana
Ghana Post informs that, following the easing of the partial lockdown and reopening of airports and borders by the Government of Ghana, it has resumed operations and is again able to receive letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items via cargo flights.
Greece
According to the official instructions of the Hellenic Government, the lockdown in Greece is over since the beginning of June 2020.
However, the gradual relaxation of the restrictions (e.g. the social distancing measures between employees and customers or among employees still exist) preventing from working at the full capacity.
Therefore, although the situation in delivery is improving gradually, they haven’t returned to normal, yet.
This is also the situation for the outbound (leg1).
Regarding the transportation of dispatches, it is improving every day but still they confront problems in order to reach some destinations with direct flights.
India
The designated operator of India, the Department of Posts (India Post), informs that the lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 crisis has been extended, though with certain relaxations.
The availability of the air, rail and road network remains limited. However, a few cargo and evacuation flights are operating and are being used to dispatch outbound EMS items and tracked small packets to certain countries.
India Post continues to accept inbound international mails; however, owing to limited domestic transport capacity, it still cannot guarantee to meet declared or otherwise agreed service delivery standards (including delivery time and other quality parameters).
Italy
Start date: 1 July
Poste Italiane, wishes to inform other Union member countries and their designated operators that, in line with Legislative Decree No. 124 of 26 October 2019, as part of government measures aimed at preventing money laundering, a number of limitations in the use of cash are to be gradually introduced in Italy.
In particular, from 1 July 2020, the maximum amount able to be transferred in cash between two parties is being reduced from 2,999 to 1,999 EUR. This limitation also concerns postal services, and specifically customs duties and the cash-on-delivery service (COD) for both letter-post and parcel-post items.
Jamaica
The designated operator of Jamaica, Jamaica Post, informs that operational activities have been partially restored as of 1 July 2020, in spite of COVID-19 social distancing measures.
It is likely that normal delivery standards will not be fully met for the time being, especially in terms of EMS deliveries, EDI messaging updates and responses to online customer inquiries.
Japan
Japan Post would like to inform that it is resuming acceptance of outbound international mail items for a number of counties and territories in limited service categories as from 1 July 2020.
Japan Post has therefore modified the list of countries and territories for which acceptance of mail is temporarily suspended owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with effect from 1 July 2020. Further details are provided on the Japan Post website (https://www.post.japanpost.
Where acceptance of mail items destined for counties and territories remains temporarily suspended, this is because the designated operators concerned are still not accepting inbound international postal items, and/or because Japan Post cannot secure sufficient transportation capacity, owing to the reduction or cancellation of flights to and from Japan.
Lebanon
The designated operator of Lebanon, LibanPost, informs Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) will be opened to commercial passenger flights, with reduced capacity, from 1 July 2020.
In addition, LibanPost has resumed the acceptance of international mail destined for 52 countries and territories, and is making every effort to do likewise for mail destined for other countries and territories as soon as possible.
Maldives
The designated operator of the Maldives, Maldives Post, informs that the Government of the Maldives has decided to extend the sanitary measures, including the lockdown of the Malé region, until 4 July 2020.
International flights to and from the Maldives will be limited until 15 July 2020, or a later date to be communicated in due course.
Access to postal outlets remains subject to restrictions, and measures to minimize human contact remain in force.
Montenegro
Montenegro Post informs that all conditions for the receipt and distribution of postal items have been stabilized and there are no longer any restrictions on the acceptance of postal items by Montenegro Post. Therefore, any postal administration can now send and receive parcels to and from Montenegro without restriction.
Peru
The designated operator of Peru, Servicios Postales del Peru S.A. (SERPOST), informs that the Peruvian government has extended the national state of emergency until 31 July 2020, until which time the borders of Peru will remain closed and all international transport by road, air, sea and river will be suspended, with the exception of transport for humanitarian purposes.
However, the Peruvian government is also in the process of authorizing the gradual reintroduction of various economic activities and recently considered the postal service. SERPOST can now announce that it will be resuming its operations, albeit in a limited fashion, from 1 July 2020.
In this initial stage, the postal services on offer will be limited. Outbound mail (letter post, parcel post and EMS) will be resumed gradually depending on flight availability and cargo capacity. All postal items will continue to be delivered in line with the guidelines set out by the Peruvian health authorities, but only in the capital, the Lima metropolitan, as transport to the rest of the country is no longer available. This could cause delivery delays for both inbound and outbound mail.
Letter post, parcel post and registered EMS will be delivered, and with appropriate social distancing measures where a signature is necessary.
Although SERPOST has been authorized to resume its operations, it must be made clear that the situation of force majeure brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing reality in Peru.
Poland
The designated operator of Poland, Poczta Polska, informs that updated measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 have been implemented in Poland and will continue to affect its services.
These updated measures came into force on 28 May 2020, and will remain in force until further notice. There are no significant changes and they are as follows:
- registered letter-post items without advice of delivery can be delivered to the addressee's mailbox (the delivery is recorded in the IT system), while parcels and insured parcels, including advice of delivery and courier items (EMS), are delivered with signature. If the recipient refuses to sign, the last four digits from the ID document, as well as the type of ID and the exact name of the receiver, are placed in the delivery card by the courier/postman.
Registered letter-post items with advice of delivery are delivered to the addressee or authorized person after verification of their ID document (the last four digits from the ID and the type of ID are placed in the delivery card as well the exact name of the receiver instead of signature). These measures and administrative or other decisions that may exclude particular areas from delivery of mail will of course affect operations and the quality of services provided by Poczta Polska.
International air traffic is opened but operations are limited to several airlines at the international airport in Warsaw. Poland is accepting mail for the following destinations: Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria (Rep.), China (People’s Rep.), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Korea (Rep.), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Kingdom, and United States of America.
Spain
Owing to the lack of transport capacity due to the suspension of flights from and to Spain, the situation of the international transport has been improved and some destinations whose acceptance was closed has been again reopen. Therefore, Correos is currently able to send mail (letter-post, parcel-post), parcels and EMS to the following destinations: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain (Kingdom), Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, China (People’s Rep.), Colombia, Congo (Rep.), Costa Rica, Côte D'ivoire (Rep.), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Dem. Rep. Of The Congo, Denmark, Egypt , Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, China , Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (Rep.), Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, China, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama (Rep.), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania (United Rep.), Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States Of America, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe
Nevertheless, the problems of capacity, frequencies and regularity of international flights persists and therefore Correos will no longer accept letter-post and parcel-post items for those destinations to which transport capacities are unavailable.
Under these circumstances, Correos keeps the cease to accept letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items destined to all concerned member countries, until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
This will have a major impact on operations and, consequently, Correos will be unable to ensure, until new advice, the quality of service for all types of inbound and outbound mail (letter post, parcels and EMS) and the delivery standards for items under signature under the UPU Regulation.
Thailand
The designated operator of Thailand, Thailand Post, informs that the Thai Government has lifted the night-time curfew as from 15 June 2020, and the situation is gradually returning to normal.
Thanks to improvements in terms of international transport capacity and resumption of acceptance of mail by certain destination countries, Thailand Post is now able to send mail to many destinations, though delays are to be expected. The list of available outbound destinations, which will be updated according to the availability of airlines, can be found at www.thailandpost.co.th//un/
Thailand Post is accepting inbound mails as usual and delivering them in compliance with government-mandated measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, transit à découvert via Thailand and closed transit services for letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items remain temporarily unavailable.