Update: Coronavirus and Impact on Delivery
China Post, via the Universal Postal Union, has provided the following update on the impact of the coronavirus on postal deliveries to/from China.
Emergency Information System Message
Message n° 26/2020
7 February 2020 à 16h27 (CET)
Further to EmIS 10/2020, the designated operator of China (People’s Rep.), China Post, asks us to reiterate and inform other Union member countries and their designated operators of the following issues with regard to preventing and minimizing the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), as per the requirements of the Chinese government.
First of all, according to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses do not survive for long on objects. It is therefore safe to receive postal items from China, without risk of contracting the new coronavirus. Measures have nevertheless been implemented to ensure the safety of mail processing and postal staff, including disinfection of postal offices, processing centres and transportation vehicles, and monitoring of postal staff’s physical health. China Post kindly requests the assistance of other Union member countries and their designated operators in providing the above information to senders.
1. Measures taken for disinfection and delivery
All postal offices, processing centres and transportation vehicles will be disinfected regularly and postal staff’s physical health will be monitored. For all inbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items), China Post will contact the recipient by telephone in advance to inquire as to their delivery preferences. Delivery will be conducted via non-face-to-face methods, such as temporary storage at the postal outlet, availability for collection from the outlet, or delivery to a smart parcel locker. Therefore, delays should be expected in the processing and delivery of inbound mail, and it may not be possible to provide written proof of delivery.
2. Impact on customer inquiry
As delivery options for all inbound mail need to be agreed by the recipient in advance, China Post kindly requests the assistance of other Union member countries and their designated operators in explaining to senders the aforementioned delivery options, which may not allow for the provision of written proof of delivery under these special circumstances.
With regard to customer inquiry for inbound mail (registered/insured letter-post items, parcel-post and EMS items), the provision of written proof of delivery by China Post is not mandatory under such circumstances. Inquirers who submit inquiries to the system while this provision remains effective should be advised not to escalate their inquiries to subsequent workflow levels.
3. Impact on transit mail transportation
Owing to the spread of the 2019-nCoV virus, a number of international airlines have suspended flights to mainland China, and some border ports in neighbouring countries are also temporarily closed. As a consequence, China Post will temporarily store affected transit mail (air and surface) and will transport it to the destination countries when these transport options are once again available. Delays should be expected in transport and delivery during this period.
To date, transit mail to the following countries has been affected: Dem. People’s Rep. of Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.
China Post thanks all Union member countries and their designated operators for their understanding, and will inform them via EmIS once the situation has returned to normal.