How Correios logistics has supported the fight against COVID-19

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Through the streets of São Paulo (SP), a Correios van travels carrying precious cargo: samples of the new coronavirus to be analyzed by scientists and researchers from several universities in Brazil. Once again, in its 358 years of existence, celebrated on the 25th, the state-owned company is responsible for the logistics of one of the most important initiatives for the country, now focused on combating COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Correios  Phone Number List  has been involved in the operation of Rede Vírus, a committee of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI) that brings together several renowned institutions, such as Fiocruz, Butantan and USP, with the aim of developing diagnosis, treatment, vaccines and produce knowledge about the virus.
All stages of Correios deliveries are photographed for greater control of the operation.

Connecting the different points of this network, the Post Office has played a fundamental role in the logistical success of the initiative: it is the state-owned company that transports and distributes samples of viruses, medicines and clinical tests between laboratories and universities, with all the agility and security necessary for operation.




As it is biological and perishable material, delivery times to destinations are very short, which requires differentiated treatment and logistical control to guarantee the integrity of the samples.
Phases

In the first phase of the Virus Network, still in March 2020, the first collections of biological material (inactive virus) began at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo (ICB-USP) and at the Adolfo Lutz Institute, in São Paulo (SP). From there, the state-owned company transported the exhibits to five universities: Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), USP/Ribeirão Preto, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Feevale (Novo Hamburgo/RS ).
Postal team (in blue) at the Municipal Hospital of Barueri (SP). Photo: Disclosure/Correios

Based on the results of the first phase research, in mid-April, the Post Office also began collecting Eurofarma medicines for distribution in hospitals, both military and civilian, in several states in Brazil. The medicines were used for testing purposes on patients with COVID-19. In São Paulo, the Hospital das Forças Armadas de São Paulo, Hospital Albert Sabin de São Caetano do Sul, Hospital Municipal de Barueri, Hospital das Clínicas de Mogi das Cruzes and Hospital Geral de São Mateus participated in this phase of the Virus Network.
Soon after, the Post Office began to carry out, simultaneously, in addition to delivering medicines, daily collections of clinical tests carried out in these hospitals on patients with COVID-19 and sent, with strict control, for analysis by CT Vacinas de Belo Horizonte (MG).

Recognized efficiency
Color CDL to facilitate priority identification at Correios units.
For greater control over the operation, the Post Office containers that store Rede Vírus materials have a different color. Thus, when the cargo is sent to the Correios air terminals in Jaguaré, Guarulhos and Rodoanel, by road or air transport, the CDLs (Lightweight Demountable Containers) are photographed to record the line number, time and location of receipt. The photos are sent to the Rede Vírus group so that the person responsible for the cargo is ready at the time of delivery.

According to the coordinator of Rede Vírus in São Paulo (SP), Valmy Farias Cavalcante, the quality of Correios' logistics operations has received constant praise and recognition from the MCTI and Rede Vírus teams. “This work is a source of great pride for our company. We even had recognition from Minister Marcos Pontes himself, during one of the visits carried out at the Barueri Municipal Hospital (HMB)”, he stated.

The entire logistical operation of Rede Vírus is coordinated by the Logistics Department (DELOG) of Correios, in Brasília, which in turn provides all the guidelines for CLI Concursos – Logistics Management (GELOG/SPM), the Correios unit that received the mission of carrying out all operational coordination of distribution and collections throughout Brazil.