Colombia
The designated operator of Colombia, Servicios Postales Nacionales informs that, through Decree 990 of 9 July 2020, the Colombian Government extended the period of mandatory preventative isolation until 0.00 on 1 August 2020. As an essential service, however, the postal service is currently exempt from restrictions on movement, although this may change in the future. 4-72 will continue to provide domestic and international services in line with the latest developments regarding COVID-19.
French Polynesia
The designated operator of French Polynesia, OPT-PF – Fare Rata, informs that it has now resumed all its postal activities.
Domestic flights are now all operating as normal and, thanks to the resumption of international flights to and from France, Canada and the United States, OPT PF – Fare Rata is again able to process outbound and inbound international mail sent to, from or via those countries.
Honduras
The designated operator of Honduras, Empresa de Correos de Honduras (Honducor), informs that, in view of the measures adopted by the Honduran Government through an executive order of 19 July 2020 to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the entire territory of Honduras will remain in lockdown until 26 July 2020 (or a later date to be communicated in due course).
To minimize human contact and protect its workers, Honducor has decided that it is necessary to suspend the postal service across the entire postal supply chain until 26 July 2020, or a later date to be communicated in due course (from admission of international mail at land and sea borders, and at Ramon Villeda Morales Airport in San Pedro Sula and Toncontin Airport in Tegucigalpa). It therefore asks countries that normally send their mail to Honduras by air cargo or commercial flights not to do so for the time being; otherwise the mails will need to be stored in customs warehouses, generating significant extra costs. An exception may be made for humanitarian aid, which Honducor is able to process with the knowledge and prior authorization of the Honduran Government.
Hong Kong, China
The designated operator of Hong Kong, China, Hongkong Post, informs that special working arrangements to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 announced by the government on 19 July 2020 will affect Hongkong Post services from 20 to 26 July 2020. These will affect the processing and delivery of all types of services, including outbound and inbound letter-post, parcel-post and EMS services, with an impact on quality of service.
Indonesia
The designated operator of Indonesia, Pos Indonesia, informs that operational activities have been partially restored as of 13 July 2020, subject to COVID-19 social distancing measures.
Outbound mail items (letter post, parcel post and EMS)
Owing to insufficient international transport capacity, Pos Indonesia is accepting outbound international letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items for the following destinations only: China (People's Rep.), Hong Kong, Korea (Rep.), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The international transport issue has also impacted the forwarding of missent items during the pandemic.
Inbound mail items (letter post, parcel post and EMS)
Since 18 June 2020, the international mail processing centre has been operating for the processing of incoming international dispatches. However, distribution to remote customs and delivery offices is still subject to delays, owing to insufficient means of transportation. Some regions have also continued to implement specific measures in response to the COVID-19 situation. This means that Pos Indonesia is still unable to guarantee the quality of service and delivery standards for letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items, and the case of force majeure already invoked remains in force. The disruption is expected to continue until the pandemic is over.
Signature on delivery remains suspended for all letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items. However, tracked confirmation of deliveries will be provided via the usual tracking event scans for products that allow tracking.
Maldives
The designated operator of the Maldives, Maldives Post, informs that the situation with outbound mail items (letter post, parcel post and EMS) is gradually returning to normal, following the resumption of limited international flights to and from Velana International Airport.
However, acceptance of international letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items for some countries is still temporarily suspended because of the non-availability of flights and continuing lockdown in destination countries.
Nepal
The designated operator of Nepal, Nepal Post, informs that the Government of Nepal has decided to lift the partial nationwide lockdown with effect from 22 July 2020, but is maintaining the suspension of incoming international flights until 16 August 2020. Domestic and international flights and domestic public transport services will be able to be resumed from 17 August 2020.
The measures taken to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on the collection, transmission and delivery of mails, and on postal services in general. Nepal Post is hopeful that it will be able to resume its international postal services soon; domestic postal services have already been partially restored since 15 June 2020.
Samoa
The designated operator of Samoa, Samoa Post, informs other Union member countries and their designated operators that the Government of Samoa has extended the state of emergency until August. Samoa Post is now able to send outbound mail to Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand and Tonga, and EMS items to the United States. It is still able to deliver inbound mail with minimal delays.
Togo
The designated operator of Togo, the Togo Postal Corporation (La Poste), informs that the Togolese Government has now eased the measures aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19 in Togo. However, flights remain suspended and borders are still closed, other than for transport of goods.
Following a reorganization of its services, the Togo Postal Corporation has restored some of its capacity to process letter-post, parcel-post or EMS items sent on cargo flights. Because of this reorganization, designed to meet social distancing requirements, mail processing is liable to be delayed.
Postal items are delivered only over post office counters between 8.00 and 16.00, or to post office boxes. Mail processing and delivery times remain impacted.
The Togo Postal Corporation has limited transport capacity for outbound letter-post, parcel-post or EMS items owing to the suspension or cancellation of flights to most countries. Cargo flights operate irregularly and offer only limited capacity for postal items, leading to delays in the processing and dispatch of outbound items.
The Togo Postal Corporation therefore cannot guarantee that processing standards for the different categories of items will be met.
Vanuatu
The designated operator of Vanuatu, Vanuatu Post, wishes to inform that the Vanuatu Government has extended the state of emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until 31 December 2020.
International borders remain closed, but authorizations have been given for cargo flights to operate. However, postal service quality for international inbound and outbound services and service delivery standards (including delivery time and other quality parameters) applicable under UPU provisions and related bilateral and multilateral agreements with designated operators can no longer be guaranteed until further notice.