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.

[John Gayer]

In Finland mail delivery seems to be quite reliable, but as the volume is steadily decreasing, the price of postage keeps climbing. Japan seems to have reasonable postage rates. 

[William M]

as far as i know mail here in taiwan is being delivered and sent out normally. i've not noticed any difference in my usual mail service. i had been told by one of my students that they were letting mail sit a few days before delivering it - but i've not been able to have this confirmed.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

That lockdown time-frame does sound optimistic, Val. So sorry your local Post is affected this much. USPS is delivering+sending, tho delivery seems sparser. Maybe I wish for too much, ha. Greece sounds serious, that's good. The U.S., like Bradford intimates, is full of people who are taking the problem seriously AND those who aren't. The country may be too big (and this isn't the first time I've thought so). 

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

Air Mail? Just how many planes are flying to and from other countries, and is there mail in the cargo bin?

I have not had  a mail delivery since last Wednesday, and being "over 70" we are restricted to be out only to go to the food shops and the pharmacy. Like Valentine, i could not justify going to the post office, too far away, if it is even open!

During the Greek lock down, I am doing a daily "work routine" to go to my studio (downstairs in my apartment building, fortunately :-) and I am making mail art, making envelopes (as all those kinds of supply stores are closed) and enjoying "creative time" with the hope that maybe BEFORE the summer, I will be able to send mail art to all of you.

Patience...the Greeks don't see a "lock down" of say, 4 months, as such a difficulty, as it was 4 years during the Nazi occupation and people were dying of starvation in the streets then. So, "Stay at Home" is not all that bad, really :-)

Greece has "quarantined" the youth: all cafes, clubs, shopping malls, (all stores, actually), beaches, ski resorts, and today all hotels, are CLOSED: Stay Home . This is not a "holiday" ...it is serious.

[Bradford]

The two week estimate would be more credible if we could quarantine the teens.

[Sabrina S]

In Germany Deutsche Post does business as usual so far.  We've no lockdown on travel at the moment, too. Public transport system is still working, just a litte bit less trains and trams than usual. 

[Carien van Hest]

Mail service is as usual in the Netherlands. Delivery Tuesday through Saturday. 

[Cascadia Artpost]

Mail is coming and going normally in Cascadia. Home mail delivery continues in our urban area, Monday through Saturday. We purchase stamps online at USPS.com, and private delivery services such as Federal Express and UPS are delivering. However, most businesses are closed (though the Boeing plants for aircraft assembly in the Seattle area remain open, controversially for their workers), only pharmacies, grocery stores, and medical facilities open in our community (though with restrictions).