Barbados
Start date: 27 March 2020
End date: 12 February 2021
The designated operator of Barbados, Barbados Postal Service, would like to inform that the Government of Barbados has extended the national pause until 28 February 2021. Furthermore, a weekend curfew will be imposed with effect from 19.00 on Friday, 19 February until 6.00 on Monday, 22 February 2021.
As a result, some airlines have reduced their services and/or cancelled flights. This reduced transportation capacity may lead to delays in both inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items). Service delivery standards therefore cannot be guaranteed, and the situation of force majeure previously declared remains in place.
French Polynesia
Start date: 17 February 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of French Polynesia, OPT PF - FARE RATA, wishes to inform that, owing to the reduction in the number of flights offered by partner airlines, and new measures to protect against COVID-19, it is currently unable to maintain processing quality or meet quality of service standards for letter-post, parcel-post or EMS items.
Currently, mail from the Asia-Oceania zone is reaching French Polynesia by sea once a month, while mail from Europe is coming by sea once every 10 weeks.
There are currently no mail exchanges with the United States owing to the suspension of all flights between French Polynesia and that country.
Greece
Start date: 15 February 2021
End date: ongoing
Bad weather impacts postal services: Hellenic Post reported that Greece has been hit by heavy snowfall since February 15 with Attica, central Greece, the Peloponnese and Crete regions being particularly affected. The main highway connecting Athens and Salonika is closed, and many flights from Athens International Airport were cancelled.
Further disruptions should be expected until the weather situation improves.
Hong Kong
Start date: 28 March 2020
End date: 18 February 2021
The designated operator of Hong Kong, China, Hongkong Post, informs that the measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted and the case of force majeure previously announced has been closed as of 18 February 2021.
New Zealand
Start date: 15 February 2021
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of New Zealand, New Zealand Post, informs that, as a result of a confirmed community outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland after four months without community transmission, the New Zealand Government has moved the Auckland region to national COVID-19 Alert Level 3 from 00.00 (midnight) local time on Monday, 15 February, provisionally until 23.59 on Wednesday, 17 February 2021. The rest of New Zealand has moved to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 for the same period.
A summary of New Zealand’s COVID-19 Alert Levels and their restrictions can be found at
covid19.govt.nz/alert-system.
Various protective measures (social distancing, extra cleaning) are being implemented to ensure the safety of both customers and staff. There are various additional measures in place for the Auckland region, the location of New Zealand Post’s inbound/outbound office of exchange and customer care centre.
Throughout New Zealand, contactless delivery and pick up processes apply, with delivery staff capturing the name of the receiving customer and stepping back from the door to remove the need for any physical contact.
Given the current restrictions, New Zealand Post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards (such as delivery times and other quality parameters, transmission of scanning events, quality of service link to terminal dues) applicable to UPU products, notably letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items, and is invoking force majeure until further notice.
Portugal
Start date: 23 March 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Portugal, CTT Correios de Portugal, would like to inform that the Portuguese Government has extended the general lockdown in place throughout Portugal at least until 1 March 2021. The authorities predict that this general lockdown will last until the end of March, in order to control the pandemic.
During the lockdown, CTT Correios de Portugal will continue to provide postal services but will operate with a reduced workforce and subject to the restrictions and safety guidelines. The processing and delivery of all types of inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) will continue to be affected, and CTT Correios de Portugal is unable to guarantee compliance with the agreed standards.
Given the current uncertainty with regard to the international transport network, CTT Correios de Portugal is maintaining the suspension of transit à découvert and closed transit operations for both letter mail and parcels.
Therefore, the force majeure situation declared through previous EmIS messages remains in place until further notice.
Samoa
Start date: 26 March 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Samoa, Samoa Post, informs that the Government of Samoa has extended the state of emergency until 13 March 2021.
As there is still only one cargo flight into and out of the country per week, Samoa Post requests that all mail to Samoa be sent as closed transit through New Zealand. All inbound mail is subject to a three-day quarantine upon arrival and delays in the delivery of mail are therefore to be expected.
Saudi Arabia
Start date: 28 January 2020
End date: ongoing
The designated operator of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Post, informs that, in accordance with the measures taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and the requirements of the government of Saudi Arabia, all letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items requiring signature on delivery will, for security reasons, provisionally be delivered to customers indirectly. Consequently, it will not be mandatory for Saudi Post to provide written proof of delivery, and the delivery will be based on a code sent to the addressee’s mobile phone.