International shipping and the Coronavirus
The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus is not only affecting travel, but also parcel carriers that deliver internationally.
Hallmark Consumer Services has been notified by several of its carriers that they are not collecting or delivering to certain areas due to the Coronavirus outbreak. This is because they must adhere to all regulations and guidelines from government authorities relating to containment of the virus.
Parcelforce has temporarily suspended shipping to China, Macao, Mongolia and parts of Northern Italy and there are delays shipping to Hong Kong. FedEx is collecting shipments from China on a case-by-case basis. It is likely that other carriers will be taking similar precautions to protect their employees and prevent further spread of the virus.
Our advice
Hallmark is working closely with clients that ship goods internationally, particularly into Northern Italy, to help them manage shipping delays or temporary suspension of services.
At present, we are still receiving deliveries from China.
Our advice to other businesses that ship or receive goods internationally is to regularly monitor the news for updates, particularly if you deliver or receive goods from any of the affected areas. We also recommend that you keep in touch with your carriers for further updates and keep lines of communication open with your clients and suppliers to help manage expectations and the impact it may have.