WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOUR NATIONAL MAIL SYSTEM?

[Valentine Mark Herman]

I wonder what is happening to your national mail system?

In my small village in the South of France, there is sporadic delivery of mail. The local Post Office is closed, and people are directed to one about 10 miles away -- but there is a 'lockdown' on almost all travel, and it's far from clear that a trip to this Post Office to send off some Mail Art would be accepted by the authorities (and, if not, would result in a €135/$150 fine).

The only shop that sells stamps in the village has sold out of them and doesn't know when, or if, it will get some more.

So mail comes in sometimes, but it's very difficult to send Mail -- Art or otherwise -- out.

The lockdown is initially for 2 weeks, but methinks that this is a very optimistic time-frame indeed.

[Ilya Semenenko-Basin]

I send mail, take a risk. I hope that my messages will reach Europe and the United States one day.

[Valentine Mark Herman]

Catch 22?/Catch Vingt-Deux?

Since I started this Blog, there has been a further lockdown in France that ends in a couple of days' time, but the President is making an address to the Nation tomorrow night and it is likely to be extended for.....who knows?

Meanwhile, the Post Offices in the local villages remain closed; the Tabacs (tobacconists/newspaper shops) have run out of stamps; and one is directed to the nearest large Post Office. That, however is, about 10 kms (6 miles) from where I live, and one can only travel further than 1 km from home without special permission and for a specific, authorised purpose which does not, alas, include buying stamps for Mail Art.

Postal deliveries have been reduced to 2 or 3 times a week, but if there is not enough mail for a street/districtvillage then the postperson will not deliver it until there is enough to ake the trip worthwhile.

To be continued one day...

[Ilya Semenenko-Basin]

Today I sent some of my collages to the USA, to some European countries, to Australia. I am afraid that my mail will be blocked and will not reach the recipients. How stupid...

In Russia, mail works normally, but I forgot that in Europe and the world - everything is different.

[John Gayer]

The latest news update in Finland (April 9) said that the movement of mail beyond Europe's borders or coming from outside Europe was virtually non-existent. It also noted that the situation is changing all the time.

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

HELLenic Post lists countries that I may send mail art to:

A list of countries where I will be able to send and receive mail

is posted at the Hellenic Post website, which I did not see until now:

ALBANIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, BULGARIA, CANADA, CZECH Rep., DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, HUNGARY, ICELAND, ITALY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, LUXEMBOURG, Ν. MACEDONIA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SWEDEN, SWIRTZELAND.

Obviously, only to European countries, as there are no international flights, maybe the mail is going "surface mail" by train or trucks? We shall see :-(

NOT able to send to the USA, Australia, Taiwan, etc. but I was able to receive from them:

[Valentine Mark Herman]

Got some Mail today -- the first in a week. I am worried about this man in Holland who sent some Mail to his friend in Germany 3 weeks ago:

...and this man in Germany who is still waiting for the Mail from his friend in Holland

He's getting desperate!

[marlies wilding]

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/usps-statement-on-corona...

this article is quite informative. 

this is a recent link, dated march 17, about the usps mail situation.  they are an essential service, and thus far, think that the changes in temperatures, etc. might not be condusive to the spread of this virus.

sounds like a go, houston. 

[Sabrina S]

@Katerina: I also expect that international mail is very slow now  due to very few planes are flying. 

[Richard Canard]

20.03.20 Dare Mister Valentine Mark Hermann, et al, ... Should there be any question about contagion it seems to me that (alas)  dropping out of the network, or any failure to answer the mail & or a lack of response  to a mailing would finally become  a positive act.  The  world is upside down. SinCelery, Richard Canard 

[Ilya Semenenko-Basin]

Dear Valentine,
I live in Moscow, it is a very large metropolis. The post office is working without changes, but the peak of the epidemic in Russia has not yet passed.

Today I was at the post office and picked up another mail from the box. It is a pity that postal employees in Moscow do not wash their hands constantly!