Thursday, April 2, 2020

Singapore Post suspends mail services to 34 countries and regions until further notice

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Unused stamps-dispensing / bill payment machines known as SAM at a Singapore Post branch. International mails to 34 countries and regions now cannot be delivered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



On 2 April 2020, Singapore Post has announced suspension of Speedpost Priority delivery services to all countries and international mail services to 34 countries and regions from Singapore Changi Airport until further notice. The countries and regions where international mails cannot be forwarded to are as follows:-

Benin, Bolivia, Cayman Island, Central African Republic, Chad, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador,  French Polynesia, Greece, Honduras, India, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

International mail services of Singapore Post include ordinary Air-Mail, Sea-Mail, Registered Services, Speedpost Standard and Speedpost Economy services. However, Speedpost Express services may still be available to other countries. Please click https://uat.singpost.com/covid-19-updates/speedpost-service-updates for details and updates.

Updates from overseas postal authorities on postal delivery measures during the pandemic are available at this link https://www.speedpost.com.sg/announcements.

For instance, Correo Argentino reports that all mail services in Argentina remain normal although the country is in "lockdown" situation until 12 April 2020. The addresse in Argentina is required to show his ID and the post personnel will note the number on the signature field of the postal delivery confirmation. No addresse signature is required upon item delivery confirmation as part of Argentina's health and safety measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

According to Singapore Post, many overseas postal operators have announced service adjustments or disruptions due to COVID-19. The pandemic has severely impacted international movement of people and goods as countries implement additional border controls and restrictions on international travel. As a result, airlines have drastically reduced international services, leading to a significant reduction in air freight capacity and frequency to and from Singapore to all international destinations.



Vincent Phang, the Singapore Postmaster General, comments in Singapore Post's press release, "Due to the border controls and limited air connections to some countries, this may result in longer than usual deliveries, even as we work round the clock with our partner airlines and agents."

Singapore Post also advises that all registered mail items, if any is received, will be delivered to the addresses' letterboxes instead. In the event the item cannot fit into the letterboxes, items will still be delivered to the recipients' doorsteps.

In the event where doorstep delivery is necessary, post personnel will knock on the doors as usual and step away from the doors at a safe distance. If recipients are at home to collect an item, the post personnel will confirm verbally with the addresse before leaving the item at the doorstep for the recipient's collection after the post personnel leaves. If no one is at home, a delivery card notice with details of delivery attempt will be left. The item will be forwarded to a post office for collection.


It is safe to approach a Singapore Post branch to collect a mail item as each post office of Singapore has restricted customer entry to less than ten. Post office staff put on masks to serve customers. Hand sanitizers are available at counters for customers' usage in the post offices.



No comments:

Post a Comment