November 30, 2021

UPDATE 210: International Mail Service Updates Related to COVID-19

On November 30, 2021, 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:

Barbados UPDATE: Barbados Postal Service has advised that, due to the spike in the number of infections of COVID-19, the Government of Barbados has imposed a nightly curfew from November 15 until December 13, 2021. Due to this curfew, service delivery standards for letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items have been impacted and force majeure is declared until the situation returns to normal.

Brazil UPDATE: Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos (ECT) has advised that the situation that was causing delays at the Curitiba international mail processing center has now been resolved. As a result, mail processing operations have returned to normal.

Guyana UPDATE: Guyana Post Office Corporation has advised that it has discontinued the rotation of staff. Therefore, effective immediately, Guyana Post Office Corporation is resuming operations with regular working hours and a full staff complement.

Liechtenstein UPDATE: Liechtensteinische Post AG has advised that, due to a fourth wave of infections of COVID-19, it has introduced staggered home deliveries of letter-post items from November 29 until December 23, 2021. Letter-post items for postcode areas 9490, 9494 to 9498 will be delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; all other deliveries will be made on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

New Caledonia UPDATE: Office of Posts and Telecommunications (OPT-NC) has advised from November 15, 2021 onwards, letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items requiring the addressee's signature will again be delivered against the addressee's signature, with identity checking where required.

Slovakia UPDATE: Slovenská Pošta has advised that, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Slovakian Government has imposed strict lockdown measures throughout the country, effective November 25, 2021 for 90 days. Due to the lockdown, Slovenská Pošta will be operating with a reduced workforce. Therefore, the processing and delivery of inbound and outbound mail (letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items) will be affected and cannot guarantee delivery standards compliance.

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