China Post disinfects all mail to Wuhan amidst coronavirus outbreak

China Post has been instructed by the Chinese government to disinfect all mail delivered to, or in transit via, Wuhan, the site of the coronavirus outbreak.

For packages delivered to Hubei Province (postcodes 430000-449999), China Post has said it will contact the addressee by telephone before delivery to ask about delivery preferences, allowing customers to choose from a range of options without face-to-face interaction, including temporary storage at the postal outlet or delivery to a smart locker.

China Post said there would be delays to international mail processing and delivery, and that it would not always be possible to provide written proof of delivery.

Wuhan Tianhe International Airport remains closed for the majority of flights.

Other carriers, including DHL Express, have suspended service to and from Wuhan until further notice. DHL service centres in Wuhan Province remain closed, while shipments within the network are being returned to sender, or held at Wuhan and Hong Kong airports.

According to Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the US’ Center for Disease Control’s Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, while the coronavirus is transmitted between people, the risk of the virus spreading via imported parcel deliveries is extremely low, even if the parcel had been handled in China by someone infected with the virus.

Source: China Post, CNN International

Header image: Benjamin Chris