Can I send mail during Coronavirus?
Yes, you can. In fact, with the rising concerns about loneliness and the impact the lockdown is having on mental health, sending a parcel to someone who’s isolated might be the most valuable thing you can do right now.
If you’re thinking of sending a package, either within the US or overseas, you may not want to risk a trip to the Post Office and you don’t need to. Our pickup and delivery services are operating as usual, so you can book a package pickup from your home address. All you need to do is package your item and print and attach your shipping label.
Will delivery times be affected by the Coronavirus?
Due to airline travel restrictions and cancellations, customers could experience delays when sending parcels internationally, therefore, most major carriers, including the USPS, FedEx and UPS, have temporarily suspended service guarantees.
The situation changes daily, but where we have been informed of delays, we have reflected this in the transit times stated in our quote results.
We are currently not aware of any service delays on domestic deliveries.
Will I still receive proof of delivery during the Coronavirus?
Yes, you will. However, to minimise the risk to our customers and courier partners, consignees will not be required to sign for deliveries during this time. The courier will sign on their behalf and may take a photographic record of the delivery.
Can I ship a package to a business address?
If you are sending a package to a business address, then it is your responsibility to check that the recipient will be available to receive it. If the business is closed and there is no one there to receive the package, it will be returned to the sender.
Can you catch Coronavirus from packages in the mail?
Concerns were raised early on about the risk of Coronavirus being spread via letters and parcels, but although COVID-19 can survive on surfaces, both The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have advised that the risks of catching Coronavirus from a parcel are low.
The World Health Organization has stated: "The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low."
The CDC states: "In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures." Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods."
How can I minimise my risk further?
If you are worried about receiving packages, there are several measures you can take to further minimise your risk:
- Disinfect the parcel with an alcohol-based wipe before opening it
- Minimise your contact with the parcel
- Wash your hands thoroughly after opening
- Quickly discard empty packaging