Despite the Corona crisis, letters and parcels have so far been delivered without significant restrictions. However, Swiss Post already has an emergency plan for an absolute emergency.
The German postal service has, according to a newspaper report, drawn up an emergency plan in the event that it is part of the Corona virusCrisis comes to further restrictions. The “Emergency Planning Operation Covid-19” lists on 20 pages which delivery work in quarantineAreas could occur, reports the “Welt am Sonntag” according to the preliminary report.
According to this, only “registered mail” would be sent in “closed areas” in extreme situations. In such a case, so-called postal privileges such as government agencies, the judiciary, the Bundeswehr and health facilities would also receive further mail.
Deliver food to risk groups in Heinsberg
In the district of Heinsberg, which is particularly affected by the coronavirus, Deutsche Post is launching a pilot project for basic care for risk groups. This could keep people out of the supermarkets, especially in rural areas, who would have to take care of themselves, even though they should actually be in quarantine, said Post parcel officer Tobias Meyer on Friday in Düsseldorf.
Order forms for a basic range of food and everyday consumer goods would be distributed by direct mail. If interested, people can fill out an order form and have it collected by the postman.
On the following day, Swiss Post will then supply them with the desired food and household goods from the local retail store. Contactless billing is used for billing. The offer is aimed exclusively at risk groups and people in quarantine.
For the Post, the offer in Heinsberg is a pilot project. Depending on experience, one could imagine expanding the delivery service to other regions in Germany.
Delivery of letters and parcels ensured
According to the Deutsche Post in Berlin and Brandenburg, letters and parcels have so far been delivered without significant restrictions despite the Corona crisis. The post is still in use nationwide six days a week, the company reported on Thursday. The majority of the partner branches and DHL parcel shops are also open.
In individual cases, however, there may be changes in opening hours or temporary closings due to illness or lack of childcare. The company did not identify any bottlenecks due to an increase in online orders.
In view of the spread of coronavirus infections, deliverers are currently waiving, among other things, the recipient’s handwritten signature. In order to avoid personal handovers, customers could also conclude so-called storage contracts at no additional cost, in which they specified the storage location. “Deutsche Post recommends this delivery procedure especially for all households in self-isolation or quarantine,” it said.
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