August 12, 2020

UPDATE 74: International Mail Service Updates Related to COVID-19

On August 12, 2020, the Postal Service received notifications from various postal operators regarding changes in international mail services due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The following countries have provided updates to certain mail services:

Cape Verde UPDATE: Correios de Cabo Verde has advised that following the Government of Cape Vert’s announcement of the end of the lockdown, normal inbound and outbound mail operations have resumed and there are no longer any restrictions on the acceptance of postal items.

New Zealand UPDATE: New Zealand Post has advised that, as a result of a confirmed community outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland after 102 days without community transmission, the New Zealand Government has moved the Auckland region to national COVID-19 Alert Level 3 from Wednesday, August 12, 2020, provisionally until Friday, August 14, 2020. The rest of New Zealand has moved to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 for the same period. New Zealand Post will continue domestic and international inbound/outbound operations as was the case during the previous heightened COVID-19 alert levels in New Zealand between March and June 2020. Contactless delivery and pick up processes apply, with delivery staff capturing the name of the receiving customer to avoid physical contact. Given the current restrictions, New Zealand Post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards for letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items, and is invoking force majeure until further notice.

Portugal UPDATE: CTT Correios de Portugal has advised that a state of alert is in force throughout the country until further notice. Impacts on quality of service and on the processing and delivery of all types of mail, including outbound and inbound EMS, parcel post and letter post should be expected. As a result, the previously invoked force majeure remains in effect.

Unless otherwise noted, service updates to a particular country do not affect delivery of military and diplomatic mail.

These service updates affect Priority Mail Express International^® (PMEI), Priority Mail International^® (PMI), First-Class Mail International^® (FCMI), First-Class Package International Service^® (FCPIS^®), International Priority Airmail^® (IPA^®), International Surface Air Lift^® (ISAL^®), and M-Bag^® items.

The DMM Advisory will continue to provide updates as they are received. For a full list of international service disruptions, please visit https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm